Vice-burgomaster of Austrian Linz banned from entering Ukraine after visiting the Crimea
Ukraine has banned the Vice-burgomaster of the Austrian city of Linz, Detlef Wimmer, from entering the country. Wimmer crossed the state border while visiting annexed Crimea. Russian media reported that Wimmer took part in the so-called “Yalta Economic Forum,” which was organized by the Russian administration of the peninsula.
“Despite numerous appeals of the Embassy, Vice-burgomaster Detlef Wimmer demonstratively violated Ukrainian sovereignty and participated in the activities of the occupation authorities in the Crimea,” Oleksandr Shcherba, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, reported in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Neues Volksblatt. “It is time to announce that this man got what he deserved: his entrance to Ukraine is banned.”
From April 16 to 21, the so-called “Yalta Economic Forum” was held in annexed Crimea, organized by Russian authorities. The event was attended by politicians from several European countries, who were predominantly members of the right-wing parties including the “Freedom Party of Austria” and the German “Alternative for Germany.”
The Italian delegation was among one of the most numerous parties in attendance; overall, they consisted of more than 50 participants. Deputies of the Italian parliament from the ultra-right “Lega Nord” and the party of Silvio Berlusconi’s “Forza Italia” were present among the forum’s attendees.
Since 2004, an international forum called “Yalta European Strategy” (YES) has been held in Crimea. Politicians, businessmen, and scientists from all over the world met in the Livadia Palace of Yalta to discuss topical global development strategies for Ukraine, Europe and the world. After the annexation of Crimea, the YES Forum moved to Kyiv, and the administration of the peninsula organized the so-called “Yalta Economic Forum.”