Comment of the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the statements of the Mayor of Moscow Yuriy Luzhkov

On February 21 in Sevastopol, the Mayor of Moscow Yuriy Luzhkov publicly dared called in question the status of the Crimean peninsula as a part of Ukraine.

Currently, when the Ukrainian – Russian relations are gradually released from ideology and stereotypes of the past by common efforts of the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia, the statements of the Russian regional figure may not be qualified otherwise but as an intended action aimed at detriment of this positive progress.

Obviously without any authority to say in the name of Russia, Mr. Luzhkov pronounced simultaneously as if this neighbor country does not intend fulfilling its international obligations particularly fixed in the basic agreements on temporary disposition of the Black Sea Navy of the Russian Federation in the territory of Ukraine.

In addition, contrary to the mentioned basic agreements, Mr. Luzhkov took part in unveiling of the so called Moscow House built in the territory of the military unit leased by the Black Sea Navy of the Russian Federation.

Special anxiety is also aroused by the public summons of Mr. Luzhkov to Ukrainian citizens to take part in mass actions of political nature which is direct interference in internal affairs of a foreign country.

The Ukrainian party regards the events occurred in Sevastopol as a step aimed at forcing stress in the society, detriment of good neighborly relations and strategic partnership between Ukraine and Russia.

We hope that such actions of the said official will be properly assessed by the Russian authority which will be informed to the Ukrainian party.

For its part, the Ukrainian party reserves the right to resort to appropriate measures being guided by the current legislation that provides making decisions for the purpose of preventing foreign citizens from arrangement of preconditions for committal of unlawful manifestations associated with infringement of territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine.