“This is a major manipulation”

Russia is trying to legalize the annexation of Crimea by any means, in particular through so-called political tourism.

As many as 10 French legislators visited the captured peninsula in late July 2015. On the eve of the visit, ministries of foreign affairs (MFAs) of Ukraine and France warned them against travels to Crimea, as it “violated international law.” The French MPs did not care. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) responded promptly and firmly when requested to do so by the MFA of Ukraine, banning the offending French legislators from entering Ukraine.

On September 11, old friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi visited the annexed peninsula in a private capacity. The SBU declared him a persona non grata in Ukraine for three years in mid-September.

However, Kremlin’s attempts to “legalize” the annexation of Crimea have not stopped at that, but have become even more provocative instead. Russia has started using even children for this purpose.

Recently, Poland’s Gazeta Prawna reported that the Russian-Polish Center for Dialog and Harmony Foundation invited the winners of competitions “Knowledge about Russia” and “Russian Poetry Readings,” coming from Bialystok and Podlasie, to visit Moscow.

The young Poles had a guided tour of various religious and cultural sights of the Russian capital. After Moscow, a trip to Crimea awaited the Poles. “And in the evening, we will make our way to Domodedovo airport, where flight Moscow-Simferopol will take us to Crimea, a unique Black Sea peninsula having probably the richest history on the planet,” the trip’s announcement reads, posted on the foundation’s website. In addition to a cultural program, the Polish youths were taken to “working meetings” as well, sitting together with “representatives of the Republic of Crimea’s leadership and students of Slavic philology and journalism departments of Vernadsky Crimean University.”

According to analyst of the Institute of International Relations at University of Warsaw Andrzej Szeptycki, Russia is “trying to obtain if not de jure, then de facto recognition that Crimea belongs to it” in this way. “Therefore, each such visit from abroad is very important, both internationally and at the all-Russian and Crimean levels. They are needed to show the residents of Crimea that everything is alright. Moreover, Russia is trying to promote Crimea as a tourist destination in this way,” Szeptycki said.

The Day contacted Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andrii Deshchytsia and learned about the embassy’s response to this news:

“We are in contact with the foundation’s management. They claim that their competitions deepen knowledge of Polish sights in Russia. However, the foundation has distanced itself from the visit of Polish school students to Crimea, because it was a violation of the international law. We expect that they will make the appropriate statement on this issue.

“Secondly, we will turn to the Polish MFA and express our concern about Russia using children to commit such political provocations. The Polish children were unwillingly used to promote the Russian side’s agenda. We believe that this is unacceptable, and will draw the Polish side’s attention to the need to prevent similar actions in the future.”

“POLAND OPPOSES CRIMEA JOINING RUSSIA”

Miron SYCZ, Polish Sejm member, deputy chairman of the Polish-Ukrainian Parliamentary Group, Warsaw:

“I heard about this story and will try to make my contribution to this case. This is totally inconsistent with the policy of the Polish state. I say this not only as a legislator, but also as a member of the Sejm Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“Poland opposes Crimea joining Russia. We see Crimea as part of Ukraine. This visit was a major manipulation. The organizers used the moment to involve youths in it and played up Crimea’s ‘beautiful sights.’ This foundation was directed by Russia to create an unacceptable situation.

“How was it possible that the Polish youths went to Crimea? Well, Poles take part in various competitions and so it just happened. I will talk to the chairman of my committee on this matter, and not only to him. This situation is absolutely not to be repeated.”