Ukraine says foreigners are increasingly taking illegal trips to the Crimea Monday, June 13, 2016 9:16:00 AM

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that over the past five months, there were 12% more foreigners (253 people) prosecuted for making illegal trips to the annexed Crimea than all of last year (225 people), Krym.Realii reported.

According to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Press Service, most of the cases involved citizens of Russia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Uzbekistan. "The Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol are an integral part of Ukraine, which is subject to the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, and recognized as a temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine," the Ukrainian Service reported.

"The entry of foreigners and persons without citizenship into the territory and exiting from it are allowed only by special permission through the control points at Kalanchak, Chaplynka, and Chongar," added the Ukrainian Service. As noted by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, violation of these rules will result in criminal proceedings.

The Ukrainian Service urged all travelers not to travel to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol through government-closed checkpoints across the state border.

In 2015 the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted and subsequently amended the laws regarding entry to and exit from the occupied Crimea. Ukrainian human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized the document and demanded changes. Transport communication with the Crimea was suspended in December 2014.

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