Illegal Visits of Foreign Citizens to the Occupied Crimea in November 2017 – Monitoring Results

10:30 12.12.2017

Crimea

By Daniil Khmelnik, BSNews

The joint monitoring group of the Maidan of Foreign Affairs, the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies and the BlackSeaNews presents its new results on the illegal visits of foreign citizens to the occupied Crimea.

Overall, in November 2017, we have identified 58 illegal visitors from Asia, Europe, America and Africa, eleven of whom 11 had previously visited the peninsula, some of them -- on numerous occasions.

The lion's share of the November guests were participants of the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference held at the Livadia Palace in Yalta on November 5-8. According to CyberHunta, the total of 109 people had been invited to the conference with the actual turnout of 90 people from 30 countries, according to the occupants. We have been able to identify 41.

One of the conference events was the so-called The Friends of Crimea Forum were the new Friends of Crimea association was established. According to the occupiers, it’s "an informal club of politicians, parliamentarians and public figures from around the world." De-facto, however, it is a gathering of sympathetic to Russia local, washed-up or lighweight politicians who have little to lose by visiting the sanctioned territory - something the invaders proudly call the "people's diplomacy."

Other November events included:

Conference Crimea in the Global Science and Education attended by the foreign alumni of the M.V. Frunze Simferopol State University, now renamed Taurida National V.I. Vernadsky University.
The Open Crimea Vth International Tourism Forum that in addition to the architect Giovannanjelo De Angelis, had also invited the President of the World Federation of Water and Climatotherapy (FEMTEC), professor of the University of Milan, Umberto Solimene who, however, was not seen at the event after all.
The XXXIIIrd Kharak Forum Political Space and Social Time: a Dialogue of Eras and Generational Values attended by scientists from Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovakia.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Laos and one American tourist came to the peninsula on a private visit. Another American, a DNR combatant, visited Sevastopol. Italian winemakers, once again, plan to produce wines with the Crimean colleagues. Two Estonian journalists visited Artek.

Detlef Wimmer	Austria	Deputy mayor of Linz, Attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference previously visited Crimea in April 2017
Hans-Jörg Jenewein	Austria	MP from the FPOE party, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Ike Babukhanyan	Armenia	MP from the Constitutional Right Union of the Republican Fraction, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Penka Dimitrova Doikova	Bulgaria	Mayor of Hisarya, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Svetlana Sharenkova	Bulgaria	Politician, publisher and a public figure, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Hristo Marinov	Bulgaria	Head of the administration of the Attack parliamentary party, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Svetlozar Lazarov	Bulgaria	General, National Secretary of the Attack parliamentary party, former General Secretary if the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Gerogiy Pyrvanov	Bulgaria	President of Bulgaria (2002-2012), founder of the Alternative for Bulgarian Renaissance party (ABV), attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Plamen Miletkov	Bulgaria	Chairman of the Eurasian Institute of Geopolitics and Economics, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum and the IVth International Peace Forum in Crimea in October 2017
Nikolai Malinov	Bulgaria*	MP of the 40^th and 42^nd Parliaments of Bulgaria, now the leader of the Bulgarian national movement Russofiles, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Andrey Pantev	Bulgaria*	Historian, MP of the 39^th, 40^th and 42^nd Parliaments of Bulgaria from the Coalition for Bulgaria party, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Vanya Dobreva	Bulgaria*	MP of the 41^st and 42^nd Parliaments of Bulgaria, former Deputy Minister of Education under Sergei Stanishev, former Prime-Minister of Bulgaria and Head of the Socialist Party (BSP), attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Slavcho Velkov	Bulgaria*	MP from BSP, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Elena Yoncheva	Bulgaria*	Freelance journalist, MP from BSP, had been persona non grata in Ukraine for her movies on Ukraine and Euromaidan, but in 2016 was taken off the black list. attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Ivo Khristov	Bulgaria*	Lawyer and sociologist connected with BSP, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Ivanov Anchev Stefan	Bulgaria*	Historian, Professor at the ST. CYRIL AND ST. METHODIUS UNIVERSITY OF VELIKO TURNOVO, participated in the XXXIIIrd Kharak Forum Political Space and Social Time: a Dialogue of Eras and Generational Values
Graham Phillips	UK	British blogger and activist, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum. Previously visited Crimea multiple times
John Bonar	UK	CEO of the Yes-to-Business Ltd,co-Chair of the Westminster Russia Forum, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Nguyen Tkhi Tkhuk Van	Vietnam	Alumna of the M.V. Frunze Simferopol State University, now renamed Taurida National V.I. Vernadsky University, attended the conference Crimea in the Global Science and Education, previously visited Crimea in July 2015
Nguyen Tkhu Khien	Vietnam	Alumna of the M.V. Frunze Simferopol State University, now renamed Taurida National V.I. Vernadsky University, attended the conference Crimea in the Global Science and Education
Mikhail Ashkinazi	Germany	Crymchak, a descendant of the famous Crimean clan of Ashkinazi, laureate of numerous international competitions, gave concert as part of the celebrations of the 230^th anniversary of Catherine the Great’s visit to Crimea. Previously visited Crimea in August 2017.
Andreas Maurer	Germany
Dmitrii Medoyev	Georgia	The “Minister of Foreign Affairs” of the unrecognized South Ossetia, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Arthur Migvabia	Georgia	“Prime-Minister” of the unrecognized Abkhazia (2015-2016), attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Avigdor Eskin	Israel	Political scientist, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
John Cherian	India	Journalist and political scientist, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Sudheendra Kulkarni	India	Politician and columnist, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Giovannangelo De Angelis	Italy	Architect, President of Premio Internazionale Ischia di Architettura (PIDA), attended the Open Crimea Vth International Tourism Forum
Silvia Vittoria Missotti	Italy	Russian correspondent of L'Opinione Pubblica, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Stefano Valdegamberi	Italy	Deputy of the Regional Council of Veneto, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum. Previously visited Crimea in April 2017
Luca Maroni	Italy	Wine industry expert, visited Alma Valley and Dom Zakhariynykh wineries, collaborates with the Crimean wine-makers. Previously visited Crimea in September 2017 and November 2016
Falvo Ettore	Italy	Owner of one of the largest wineries in Italy, collaborates with the Crimean wine-makers.
Ge Zhili	China	“Honorary consul” of the unrecognized Abkhazia in China, advisor for the industry reform and development under the PRC committee on reform and development, president of the Russia-Eastern Europe-Central Asia exchange and cooperation society, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Sommad Pholsena	Laos	Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Laos, visited Crimea privately
Allakham Yaser	Morocco	Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Council of Arab Alumni of the Soviet and Russian Universities, advisor to the Inkorvuz XXI international alumni council, attended the Crimea in the Global Science and Education Conference
Dalibor Elezovic	Serbia	Professor of History, FACULTY OF PHILOSOPHY THE UNIVERSITY OF PRISTINA DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY,Chairman of the Institute of Serbian Culture, attended the XXXIIIrd Kharak Forum Political Space and Social Time: a Dialogue of Eras and Generational Values
Dragan Tančić	Serbia	Professor of political science, Director of the Institute of Serbian Culture in Kosovska Mitrovica, attended the XXXIIIrd Kharak Forum Political Space and Social Time: a Dialogue of Eras and Generational Values
Salam Abudalla	Syria	MP of the People's Council of Syria, attended the IIIrd Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum
Hazwan al-Wazz	Syria	Minister of Education, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Yusuf Ahmed	Syria	Member of the regional leadership of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, Head of the Russian-Syrian Friendship Community, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Allaa Darwish	Syria	Alum of the Alumna of the M.V. Frunze Simferopol State University, now renamed Taurida National V.I. Vernadsky University, attended the conference Crimea in the Global Science and Education
Michaela Moravčíková	Slovakia	Professor of Theology, Director of the Institute for Legal Aspects of Religious Freedom at the Trnava University in Trnava, attended the XXXIIIrd Kharak Forum Political Space and Social Time: a Dialogue of Eras and Generational Values
Vladimir Bachishin	Slovakia	Professor of economics, columnist, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Ján Čarnogursky	Slovakia	Former Prime Minister of Slovakia and former chairman of the Christian Democratic Movement. Chairman of the Slovak-Russian association, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
George Torres	US	Tourist
Russel “Texas” Bentley	US	A DNR combatant, took part in the laying of flowers ceremony to the Memorial of the Defense of Sevastopol, participated in the film on Russian history by the “Night Wolves” bikers club
Abdelaziz Messaoudi	Tunisia	A leader of the Al Massar party, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Unver Sel	Turkey	President of the Crimean Tatars Cultural Associations Federation, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Brenda Nalumansi	Uganda	Correspondent of the Uganda National TV, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Thierry Mariani	France	Member of the French National Assembly, served as an international observer at the “elections” in the occupied Savestopol, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum. Previously visited Crimea in July 2015 and in July and September of 2017
Jean Pierre Tomas	France	President of the Thomas Vendome Investement, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum. Previously visited Crimea in June 2016 and April 2017
Yves Pozzo di Borgo	France	Member of the Senate of France from Paris, member of the OSCE PA, member of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Karl Eckstein	Switzerland	Attorney, Honorary Council of the RF in Switzerland, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Jaanus Piirsalu	Estonia	Journalist of the Estonian daily newspaper Postimees, visited Simferopol, Yalta, Artek Youth Center and Sevastopol
Liis Treimann	Estonia	Photographer of the Estonian daily newspaper Postimees, visited Simferopol, Yalta, Artek Youth Center and Sevastopol
Koki Kobayashi	Japan	Former Deputy Minister of Finance of Japan, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Haga Daisuke	Japan	Aid to the Prime Minister of Japan, 200-2010, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum.
Kimura Mitsuhiro	Japan	Leader of a far-right group Issuikai, attended the Crimea in the Modern International Context conference, including the Friends of Crimea Forum. Previously visited the peninsula in September 2015 and September 2016

*info from the DS

***

The monitoring of the violations of the international sanctions against Russia and the legal regime of the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea is supported by the European Program Initiative of the Renaissance International Foundation. The position of Renaissance International Foundation may not reflect the opinion of the authors.

Теми:

Illegal Visits of Foreign Citizens to the Occupied Crimea in November 2017 – Monitoring Results

More on the topic