The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Turkey has reiterated the non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea.
”Three years have passed since Ukraine`s Autonomous Republic of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation on the grounds of an illegitimate referendum held on March 16, 2014,” according to a press release regarding the third anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
”We reiterate that we do not recognize the de-facto situation caused by this act which is a clear violation of the international law.”
”On this occasion, we confirm our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” reads the report.
Turkey will continue to follow the situation in Crimea closely, and to defend the rights and interests of Crimean Tatar Turks, who are among principal constituents of the Peninsula, the ministry stressed.
Memo. Russia annexed Ukraine`s Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula.
An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia.
De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77% of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia.
On March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin.
The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced.
Ukraine`s parliament voted to designate February 20, 2014, as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began.
After the annexation of Crimea, Russia`s FSB Security Service began repression against pro-Ukrainian activists, Crimean Tatars and journalists.
