REUTERS
The self-proclaimed "authorities" of the occupied Crimea have invited French far-right leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen to the Russian-annexed peninsula, so-called "deputy prime minister" of Crimea Georgy Muradov said, according to pro-Kremlin news agency RIA Novosti.
"Of course, we would be happy to see her here, in Crimea. We welcome everyone, especially those politicians who take a positive stance with regard to our republic," said Muradov, as reported by RIA Novosti.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Marine Le Pen, the National Front's presidential candidate, said January 3 that the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea by Russia was "not illegal", contrary to the position of the EU and U.S.
Read alsoBan on entry for Le Pen after scandalous statement on Crimea: SBU reveals new detailsShe also said in her exclusive interview with Russia's Izvestia that she would recognize annexed Crimea Russian territory in case she became the next French president.