Ex-Nazi Camp Transformation Into Memorial Important For Crimean History

French parliament Foreign Affairs Committee member Thierry Mariani stated that the latest events prove that Nazism is becoming stronger in its historical form and in a shape of the Islamic terrorism.

SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) — Transformation of the Second World War Nazi concentration camp into a memorial center "Krasny" made by the Crimean authorities was very important for peninsula's history, French parliament Foreign Affairs Committee member Thierry Mariani said on Friday.

Earlier in the day, a group headed by Mariani started its three-day visit to Crimea, after traveling there last year.

"A transformation of the Memorial "Krasny" that was done by the Crimean authorities is very impressive. It is very important to remember the history of Crimea. The latest events prove that Nazism is becoming stronger in its historical form and in a shape of the Islamic terrorism," Mariani told journalists after visiting the memorial.

Memorial complex "Krasny" is built on the site of a Nazi German concentration camp that was located on the territory of the "Krasny" collective farm near Simferopol in 1942. According to various estimates, 8,000 to 15,000 Crimean residents, predominately Jews, were killed at the site.

The Crimean peninsula seceded from Ukraine and became part of Russia after more than 96 percent of local voters supported the move in a referendum in March 2014. The Western countries, including France, have not recognized the legitimacy of the reunification.