Italian MPs to visit Crimea in fall, following in French footsteps

By Vladimir V. Sytin
The Ukrainian Times

After the successful friendly visit of members of France’s parliament to Crimea in July, their Italian colleagues have decided to follow suit. The visit of Italian MPs to the Russian peninsula is scheduled for early October.

Reportedly, the members of Italy’s parliament represent the popular anti-U.S. movement.

As is known, on March 16, 2014 more than 96% of the peninsula’s population voted for secession from Ukraine and joining Russia. The referendum attracted 83% voter turnout. It is important to note that 91% of citizens of Russia approved of the reunification of Crimea with their country.

Finally, it is worth remembering that in 1954 Crimea was given to Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev, head of the Central Committee of the Communist party of the Soviet Union, who was half-Ukrainian. At that time no one anticipated that the Union would ever collapse. And when that happened in 1991, residents of Crimea were handed over to Ukraine like a sack of potatoes. However, the peninsula’s population is mostly Russian and has had a strong Russian presence for over 230 years including an important Russian naval base. It must be noted that Russian troops under Catherine the Great conquered Crimea in 1783.