Australia’s Gateway Travel launches tours to Crimea

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations was the first to respond to the offered tourist tours.

The tours are to be held during May - October 2016. The itineraries include passage to and sightseeing in Simferopol, Yalta and Sevastapol. However, the company’s communications do not make any reference to the area’s current state of occupation.

"Selling out to those who have little regard for Australian values, who stand accused of shooting down MH17 and supporting those who invaded Crimea goes against the grain of Australian sentiment at this time," Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisation’s Chairman, Mr Stefan Romaniw said.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Australia also sent the letter of protest to the tour operator. In particular, the letter highlights the inadmissibility of launching such tours because they mislead the Australian citizens over the safety of the itineraries, which run through the occupied territory, and contradict the position of the international community with regard to the territorial integrity of Ukraine."

As reported, Australia announced sanctions against Russia in March 2014 following its annexation of Crimea. Sanctions were expanded in September 2014 and again in March 2015 in response to Russia’s ongoing threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

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