A senior Russian official in Crimea invited President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to visit the region after Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its refusal to recognize Russia’s annexation of the peninsula, Turkish media reported.
Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of Crimea’s parliament, made the invitation in comments to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti following remarks by Turkey’s Foreign Ministry marking the anniversary of the annexation.
“Crimea is ready to host President Erdoğan,” Konstantinov said, adding that he did not think Erdoğan would need much convincing about what he called Crimea’s decision to join Russia.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after a referendum that was widely criticized internationally. Turkey, a NATO member, has consistently rejected the move as a violation of international law and has voiced support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Responding to Turkey’s latest remarks, Konstantinov said Ankara’s position was “purely political” and claimed that Turkish officials were aware of what he described as the “real situation” in Crimea. He also referred to the construction of a central mosque in the region, which he said was built with the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Other Russian officials have also criticized Turkey’s stance. Dmitry Belik, a member of the Russian parliament’s international affairs committee, said Ankara’s position lacked foresight, while Sergei Tsekov, first deputy speaker of Crimea’s parliament, described Turkey’s statements as “provocative.”
In its anniversary statement, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that it does not recognize what it called the “illegal annexation” of Crimea and reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The ministry added that it continues to monitor developments on the peninsula, including the situation of the Crimean Tatars.