Official says Crimea can sue Ukraine for losses during 20-yr rule

SIMFEROPOL, Crimea, Aug 23 (PRIME) -- Crimea is considering filing a suit against Ukraine over the damage incurred during Kiev’s 20-year rule over the territory, Vice Chairman of the regional government Ruslan Balbek told PRIME on Tuesday.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin said earlier that Kiev will soon submit a lawsuit regarding sovereign rights in the waters surrounding Crimea. Ukraine had finished pre-litigation consultations with Russia and is ready to send the claim, he said.

Balbek said: “Crimea is entitled to submit a counter-claim and demand that Ukraine compensate the looting, which had been done on the peninsula for the two decades, when under Kiev’s chiefdom the land, the property were squandered, all collected taxes were taken away without remainder and nothing was invested in the development of infrastructure and economy of the region.”

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