Russia-backed Crimea leader says “cooperation with Belarus reaching new level”

December 18, BPN. The Russian-appointed head of Crimea, Sergey Aksenov, has told TASS that “cooperation with Belarus is reaching a new level” in 2022.

“Trade and economic ties between Crimea and the Viciebsk region develop,” he said. “In July this year, at the 9th Forum of Belarusian and Russian Regions in Hrodna, a protocol of intent for cooperation was signed between the Crimean [self-styled] council of ministers and the Viciebsk Regional Executive Committee.”

On top of that, this past October free economic zones Crimea and Viciebsk signed their own protocol of intent. Aksenov said there are plans to conclude a fully fledged agreement on trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation with the Viciebsk region by the end of 2022.

“Our Belarusian partners consider Crimean production sites to localize Belarusian assembly plants. We are ready to offer Belarus access to Crimean ports as the Eurasian Economic Union’s southern sea gates,” he added.

On November 30, Alaksandr Łukašenka told Russian state-owned news agency Rossiya Segodnya that he was planning to visit Crimea, which he described as Russia’s de facto and de jure territory.