French MPs provoke anger across Europe with visit to Crimea

A group of pro-Russian French lawmakers paid a visit to Crimea in July 2015, striking heavy criticism both in France and Ukraine.

French foreign affairs minister Laurent Fabius expressed his outrage at a group of ten MPs, most of them members of Nicolas Sarkozy's opposition Republican party. The European Union had still sanctions in place over the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

A group of MPs from Italy were scheduled a visit to Crimea in October 2015. In the meantime, French actor Gerard Depardieu was banned from entering in Ukraine over his support from Crimea's annexation by Russia.

Crimea was annexed by Russia in March 2014, after pro-Russian forces occupied the peninsula and held a highly contested referendum, deemed illegal by Kyiv and the West.

ESO: Background information: Crimea: EU extends restrictions in response to illegal annexation http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-crimea-eu-extends-restrictions-in-response-to-illegal-annexation/

The New York Times, 24.07.15: French Lawmakers Visit Crimea, to the Dismay of Officials Back Home http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/world/europe/france-lawmakers-visit-crimea-russia.html

RFI, 24.07.15: Delegation of French MPs visit Crimea despite sanctions http://www.english.rfi.fr/europe/20150724-delegation-french-mps-visit-crimea-despite-sanctions

The Moscow Times, 22.07.15: French Parliamentarians Head to Crimea for Controversial Visit http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/french-parliamentarians-head-to-crimea-for-controversial-visit/526017.html

The Local.fr, 24.07.15: French MPs under fire for trip to annexed Crimea http://www.thelocal.fr/20150724/french-mps-under-fire-for-trip-to-crimea

Sputnik International, 29.07.15: Italian Lawmakers to Tour Crimea After French MPs Visit http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150729/1025159865.html

Euronews, 29.07.15: Ukraine bans French actor Gerard Depardieu over support for Crimea annexation http://www.euronews.com/2015/07/29/ukraine-bans-french-actor-gerard-depardieu-over-support-for-crimea-annexation/

BBC News, 28.07.15: Ukraine 'blacklists' French actor Depardieu http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33698657

Sputnik International, 27.07.15: US Propaganda on Crimea Misleading, But 'Understandably' So - French MP http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20150727/1025105309.html

BBC News, 23.07.15: French MPs' Crimea visit condemned by France and Ukraine http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33633874

Euronews, 23.07.15: French MPs defend controversial visit to Crimea http://www.euronews.com/2015/07/23/french-mps-defend-controversial-visit-to-crimea/

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