Jazz bands from different countries, including Russia, India, China, Armenia and the United States, will participate in the event that was first held in 2003.
Sanctions are ludicrous and pointless when it comes to music that unites people, Director General of Sputnik Dmitry Kiselev said ahead of the opening of a three-day international jazz festival in Crimea.
"Sanctions are absurd and pointless, ordinary people, musicians… will always find ways to unite… Crimea should unite [people]… and it is the mission of our festival," Kiselev, the festival's co-founder, said at a press conference.
Among the festival's media partners are Sputnik, media company Krasny Kvadrat, Rossiya television and radio, broadcaster Rossiya 24 and Rossiya-K TV channel.
The small Crimean settlement of Koktebel has been hosting the festival since 2003.
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The event came about from a private initiative put forth by Sputnik Director General Dmitry Kiselev and has become one of Crimea's hallmarks, taking its place among the list of renowned international jazz festivals.
This year, the event will be held from August 24 to 26.
