Turkey closes ports for vessels from Russian-occupied Crimea

"I think a joint visit with Mr. Dzhemilev [the Ukrainian president's envoy for the affairs of Crimean Tatars, MP Mustafa Dzhemilev] and members of the Crimean Prosecutor's Office to the Republic of Turkey was fruitful, as Turkey adopted a rather tough decision afterwards. According to our information, it was immediately introduced and is being implemented to prevent the entry into Turkish ports of ships that violate economic sanctions over Crimea occupation," he said.

Read alsoUkraine, Turkey agree on cancellation of double taxationAs UNIAN reported, Lutsenko visited Turkey in early October. After the visit, his press secretary Larysa Sargan reported that the Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry had sent a letter to all entities involved in transportation by sea and port services that ships from Crimea should not be allowed.

"Turkish ports, marine agents, operators and ship owners were officially informed that 'vessels arriving from Crimea and its ports are not allowed to enter Turkey, and permission to sail from the ports of this region shall not be provided,'" she said.

In addition, Turkey introduced a strict system of vessel control, including vetting of documentation. So, the management of the ports should demand that vessels provide proof that a Crimean port was not the last point of their departure and that Crimea is not their destination. Ports are barred from customs registration and work with port and trade documents bearing the stamp "Crimea."

Turkey earlier barred its vessels from visiting the occupied peninsula with five ports – Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosia, Yalta, and Yevpatoria.