Crimean leader Sergey Aksyonov's presence in Vladimir Putin's delegation sets tongues wagging

NEW DELHI: The reported presence of Crimean leader Sergey Aksyonov in Vladimir Putin's delegation caused much sensation on Thursday as the global media played it up as a potential dampener for the Modi-Obama summit in January next year.

While the Indian foreign ministry denied that Aksyonov was part of Putin's official delegation, an international news agency quoted a Mumbai-based businessman, who met the Crimean leader at a New Delhi hotel, as saying that Aksyonov had travelled to India as part of Putin's official delegation.

MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin also said Aksyonov was not part of the official talks between Indian and Russian delegations. A senior Russian embassy official too told TOI that the Crimean leader was not a member of the official group but added that he had indeed accompanied Putin to India.

Aksyonov himself was quoted as saying that his visit was of private nature and that he was not participating in any official event. Confusion arose later, though, when he tweeted that he was here as a part of Putin's delegation.

“India has always been a strategic partner of Russia and its stand was always balanced,“ said the head of the Republic of Crimea. Crimea had in March this year acceded to the Russian Federation from Ukraine, a move that led to sanctions against both by western countries. Asked whether he was hopeful of building a strong economy back home and if he was confident of getting all funds promised by Russia, he said there were “no doubts“.

“The sanctions only mobilized the Russian economy and Russian potential including Crimea's potential. Now the special economic zone will start working in Crimea and will be very advantageous for business,“ he said.