On December 19, 2014 both the United States and European Union placed sanctions on Russia...and specifically on Crimea. The EU sanctions prohibited investment in Crimea, infrastructure assistance to Russian oil and gas exploration in the Black Sea, and certain tourist activities in Crimea. The U.S. sanctions prohibited new investments in Crimea; the import and export of goods, technology and services from or to Crimea; the purchase of real estate in Crimea and blocked certain individuals from coming to the U.S.
The sanctions have been successful in destroying the tourism business in Crimea. Most visitors have come to Crimea by cruise ships from Turkey and Greece through the Bosphorus Straits into the Black Sea to the ports of Yalta or Sevastopol. Annually, over 260 cruise ships dock in Crimea, but for the past two years none have arrived, thereby decimating the international tourist industry. However, travel by Russian citizens to Crimea has increased.
Before the referendum, international visitors could fly to Crimea directly from Europe. However, under the EU sanctions, European airlines no longer fly into Crimea. International visitors can fly into Crimea only from Russian cities.
Sanctions on the use of international credit cards and on cellphone technologies were some of the most striking aspects of the sanctions for daily life in Crimea. Now, two years later, some international credit cards will work in Crimea, but I-phone and other cellphone services are spotty. Interestingly, these type of sanctions were not aimed at Russia itself, but just Crimea -- to teach the citizens of Crimea a lesson, they told us.
Travel for citizens of Crimea is more difficult as they must obtain a Russian Federation passport. Individuals said it is more difficult to travel with a Russian passport and particularly from Crimea.
After the referendum, the interim Ukrainian government cut off electric power to Crimea and several electric transmission stations were blown up forcing businesses and families to get generators. Russia eventually provided a massive electric power grid bringing electricity into Crimea from Russia. Russia is also constructing a $3.2 billion, 19-kilometer (11.8 miles) bridge that will connect Crimea directly with Russia.
For its part, the US government cancelled its programs formally available to people in Crimea when it was a part of the Ukraine. Peace Corps volunteers were removed from Crimea and school construction projects by US military units were canceled. US funded professional exchange programs ended as did US agricultural and law enforcement projects.
Some with whom we spoke regretted the loss of contact with the United States and its programs, particularly its exchange programs. One educator lamented the difficulty in finding exchange programs for high school and college students in the Crimea to live and learn in the United States. Graduates of universities in Crimea are finding that some educational institutions outside of Russia are no longer recognizing their diplomas and certificates because of the sanctions.
Educators said they do not want to be isolated from the world. They asked that our delegation assist in finding professional and educational exchanges with educational institutions and civic organizations in the United States.
One local official expressed great concern about the negative reaction of the international community to the decision of Crimeans to reunite with Russia and the lack of criticism for the overthrow of the elected government of the Ukraine.
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