Kasyanov: I will return Crimea to Ukraine

Leader Parnas Mikhail Kasyanov directly promised in case of his coming to power to return the annexed Crimea to Ukraine. He made a corresponding statement in an interview with Radio Freedom.

“It was illegal, it was the annexation, which is called in international law, so the legality should be restored,” Kasyanov noted. The restoration of the rule of law, according to him, should occur during negotiations with the Government of Ukraine. “I do not see any problems for open discussion of these issues,” the leader Parnassus added.

Kasyanov also assured that, having come to power, he would end the war in the east of Ukraine in one day.

The leader Parnassus previously spoke in a similar vein. So, in May 2015, to the question of journalists, whether he would return the Crimea to Ukraine if he had become president , the politician replied: "Without a doubt! And I would not be content only with the return of Crimea." At the same time, however, Kasyanov agreed: "I would return it in cooperation with the international community, making sure that all international laws will be met."

Kasyanov’s opinion varies with the positions of the leaders of the Party of Progress Alexei Navalny and “Open Russia” by Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Navalny in October 2014 stated: " Crimea is what, a sandwich with sausage, or something? It? It was back and forth ..." Khodorkovsky supported Navalny, noting that "the problem of Crimea is now for decades." The leader of Open Russia was confirmed by this position in the future .

At the same time, the intention of the demo -army, which includes Parnassus, to take part in the Duma elections of this year indicates the actual recognition of the annexation of Crimea. According to part 9 of Article 39 of the State Duma Elections "Regional part of the federal list of candidates must cover the entire territory of the Russian Federation ." Consequently, Yabloko will have to nominate candidates, including from Crimea and Sevastopol.

The day before, the leader of Yabloko Emilia Slabunova said that her party expects to normalize relations with Ukraine, without returning the annexed Crimea and Sevastopol. “We will not give the Crimea,” she assured. The party’s idea, according to Slabunova, consists in holding an international conference on the status of Crimea and a second referendum on the peninsula itself.