The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, in light of the upcoming Koktebel Jazz Party, has reminded American citizens that the United States and the European Union have instituted broad sanctions against activity in Crimea in response to Russia's continuing occupation and annexation of the peninsula.
“Russian organizers will hold the ‘Koktebel Jazz Party’ on August 28-30 in Crimea. Crimea remains Ukrainian territory and this event is being conducted without the permission of the Government of Ukraine. It should not be confused with the official Koktebel Jazz Festival, which will be held in the Ukrainian town of Zatoka, near Odesa, on August 23-30,” the embassy said on Aug. 20.
The embassy said the U.S. citizens are prohibited by law from providing services to the territory of Crimea.
The embassy warned its citizens that the government of Ukraine may bar entry to any foreigner seeking to enter the country after having entered occupied Crimea without passing through an official Ukrainian Government port of entry, and may subsequently ban such foreigners from entering Ukraine for up to five years.
As reported, on July 16, the U.S. Department of State renewed its travel warning for Ukraine, recommending that U.S. citizens avoid travel to Crimea.
Due to the intention of cultural figures (foreign citizens) to visit the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea to participate in the so-called Koktebel Jazz Party, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reemphasized that any trip to the occupied peninsula which hasn’t been agreed with Ukraine will lead to anyone participating in the trip being banned from entering Ukraine in the future.
“Arrival of foreign cultural figures to the event will have direct consequences – a ban from entering Ukraine,” the press service of the Culture Ministry of Ukraine quoted Deputy Prime Minister, Culture Minister Viacheslav Kyrylenko as saying on Aug. 17.
