The Friends of Crimea Association, which is represented in tens of world nations, plans to launch a website by this summer to consult those willing to do business in Crimea on how to do that, Jan Carnogursky, Slovakia’s former prime minister and chairman of the Slovakian-Russian Friendship Society, said on Saturday.
“The Friends of Crimea International Association is looking for ways to overcome the sanctions. The association plans to launch a website in a couple of weeks and anyone willing to do business with Crimean companies but is afraid of the sanctions is welcome to write to us,” he said at the 5th Yalta International Economic Forum.
According to Carnogursky, potential investors will be given advice on how to organize a business project, on condition of anonymity.
Friends of Crimea clubs, as national division of the association, were set up in 36 world nations to promote Crimea’s interests and popularize information about the Crimean referendum and everyday life in Crimea. The international association was established in Yalta in 2017.
The 5th Yalta International Economic Forum titled “World. Russia. Crimea. New Global Reality” is taking place in the Crimean city of Yalta on April 17 through 20. TASS is its strategic information partner and its photohost agency.
The Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, a city with a special status on the Crimean Peninsula, where most residents are Russians, refused to recognize the legitimacy of authorities brought to power amid riots during a coup in Ukraine in February 2014.
Crimea and Sevastopol adopted declarations of independence on March 11, 2014. They held a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimeans and 95.6% of Sevastopol voters chose to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the reunification treaties on March 18, 2014. The documents were ratified by Russia’s Federal Assembly, or bicameral parliament, on March 21.
Despite the absolutely convincing results of the referendum, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have been refusing to recognize Crimea as a part of Russia and imposed sanctions against Russia, Russian businessmen and politicians who visited Crimea and against Russian and foreign companies doing business in Crimea.