Crimea Appreciates China's Rejection Of Illegitimate Anti-Russia Sanctions - Head

Crimea values the fact that China has been opposing Western sanctions imposed both on the peninsula and Russia as a whole for defending Crimean residents' right to a peaceful life, the head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the region's reunification with Russia

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th March, 2019) Crimea values the fact that China has been opposing Western sanctions imposed both on the peninsula and Russia as a whole for defending Crimean residents' right to a peaceful life, the head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the region's reunification with Russia.

"We are building our future despite an economic, political and humanitarian blockade imposed on Crimea by Western states. It is very important to us that China stands against illegitimate anti-Russia and anti-Crimea sanctions, which were imposed on us for defending the right of our people to a peaceful life and prosperity through legal means," Aksyonov's message said as delivered by the first deputy permanent presidential representative to the Republic of Crimea, Sergey Kudrin, at the Russian Embassy in Beijing.

The Crimean Peninsula was officially reintegrated into Russia on March 18, 2014 as a result of a referendum, in which the absolute majority of those who voted voiced their support for the move.

While the international community refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the vote and has slammed the reunification as annexation, Moscow maintains that the referendum was held in accordance with international law and Crimea is now an integral part of Russia.

A number of Western countries, notably the United States, and the European Union have�introduced sanctions against individuals involved in the so-called annexation of the peninsula and its governance, and whole sectors of the Russian economy. The sanctions include travel bans, asset freezes and restrictions on investment into the peninsula, among other things.

Last year, Aksyonov said that China was among the key foreign trade partners for the peninsula.