A German MP Illegally Visited Occupied Crimea to Observe the Russian Election

Photo from Ukrinform

A German member of parliament, Ulrich Oehme, illegally went to Crimea on March 18, as an “unofficial” election observer. The Russian government invited him, and more than 300 other politicians and foreigners to Russia to legitimize the vote. Oehme chose to go to Crimea, in violation of Ukrainian law.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, condemned the visit on Twitter. He called on the German government to ban such activity. Oehme is from the Alternative for Germany, a far-right political party. Three other members of this party also illegally visited Crimea in February.

Both the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, refused to monitor the vote on the occupied peninsula.