Crimeans' Will to Reunify With Russia Should Be Respected - Turkish Delegation

The will of Crimean people, who voted for the peninsula's reunification with Russia in the 2014 referendum, should be respected, the head of a Turkish delegation of lawmakers and businessmen to Crimea, Hasan Cengiz, said Friday.

SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) – The delegation of 27 people includes representatives of various business circles as well as Mehmet Mutlu, an adviser of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The visit was organized by the leader of the International Eurasian Movement, Alexander Dugin.

“About 2.5 million people live in Crimea. The people’s expression of will resulted in Crimea joining Russia. The percentage of people voted [for reunification with Russia] is very high. It is necessary to respect the people’s choice,” Cengiz said.

The Crimean peninsula seceded from Ukraine and reunified with Russia after more than 96 percent of local voters supported the move in a referendum in March 2014. Kiev, as well as the European Union, the United States and their allies, did not recognize the move.

Nevertheless, over 60 delegations from dozens of countries have visited Crimea this year, defying Western restrictions, including those from France, Italy, Jordan and many other nations.