Ukraine’s Security Service launches criminal case against Berlusconi for visit to Crimea

The Security Service of Ukraine [SBU] has opened a criminal case against former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who visited Crimea in September this year, a deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada human rights committee said Thursday.

“Criminal proceedings have been launched against Mr. Berlusconi on Ukrainian territory. Regardless of the status, we will bring to account everyone, and Mr. Berlusconi is not an exception,” the Unian news agency quoted Georgy Logvinsky as saying.

The ex-Italian premier is accused of “illegally crossing the Ukrainian state border.” “Such actions are criminally punishable by 5 to 8 years in prison,” Logvinsky said.

In early September, on his own initiative, the leader of the Italian political party Forza Italia, ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi paid a private visit to Crimea, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine banned entry to Ukraine to Berlusconi for three years.

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