MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Italy’s right-wing political party Lega Nord will promptly send a delegation to Russia’s Black Sea republic of Crimea should it receive a formal invitation, its deputy leader and senator Sergio Divina told Sputnik on Wednesday.
“If there were an official invitation from some Crimean authorities, we’d organize a mission in a short [period of] time,” Divina said.
This remark came after media reports alleged Italian lawmakers were considering following in the footsteps of 10 French parliamentarians who travelled to Crimea last week.
The aim of the French mission was to get a first-hand look at life in the republic a year after its reunification with Russia.
In March 2014, Crimea seceded from Ukraine after voting in favor of rejoining Russia in a referendum.
The West has not recognized the legitimacy of the vote, imposing sanctions on Russia over what it calls the Crimean "annexation." Moscow has pointed out that the referendum was held in keeping with international law.
