What Sanctions? Polish Lawmakers May Visit Crimea After October 25 Election

Following a July visit by French parliamentarians to Crimea, a growing number of EU lawmakers have voiced plans to visit the peninsula, in defiance of EU decree and political prohibition.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova — Polish lawmakers may visit Crimea after the October 25 parliamentary election in the country, member of the European Parliament Janusz Korwin-Mikke told Sputnik on Friday.

"I would like to go but not before the elections, after October 25th. I am very interested, but I don’t have an invitation," Korwin-Mikke said.

After the reunification of Crimea with Russia in March 2014, Russia's relations with the West deteriorated. The move sparked international controversy, with Kiev and a number of Western states labeling the process an "annexation" and refusing to recognize a referendum in which 96 percent of Crimeans had voted in favor of seceding from Ukraine and rejoining Russia.

Italy’s opposition Five Star Movement party and Hungary’s Jobbik party confirmed to Sputnik plans to visit Crimea this fall.

German Die Linke lawmakers told Sputnik they may discuss in October or November a visit to Crimea after the Bundestag reconvened following the summer recess.