AfD representative visits occupied Crimea

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) fears that the reputation of the German Bundestag might be damaged if it fails to thoroughly investigate the behavior of Member of Parliament Ulrich Oehme (AfD) and, if necessary, sanction it. According to media reports, he had visited the annexed Crimean peninsula in March 2018 – and the visit had been paid for by the occupying power Russia.

"It is unacceptable for a member of the German Bundestag to follow such an invitation by Putin – to campaign for the lifting of sanctions and, thus, to act as a claqueur for the illegal annexation policy," stated Ulrich Delius, the STP's Director. "President of the Bundestag Schäuble must have this matter investigated and make it clear that he will not tolerate any political influence of the Duma on his house.

Ever since the Ukrainian peninsula was occupied by the Russian Federation in March 2014, there have been ongoing human rights violations. The minority of the Crimean Tatars is particularly affected. "Arbitrary house searches and arrests are commonplace in Crimea", Delius reported. "The intimidation attempts mainly affect activists in the fields of law or human rights. Now, we learn that the Kremlin has apparently bought goodwill from abroad."

On December 18, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution condemning the Russian occupation of the Crimea and the militarization of the adjacent sea areas (A/73/L.47). "The annexation of the Crimea was and still is illegal. It is inacceptable that members of the Bundestag are paid to publicly argue against this," Delius criticized.