(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Ukraine has protested to Russia after a leather-clad President Vladimir Putin visited the annexed Crimean peninsula to attend a bikers’ festival.
Its foreign ministry described Saturday’s visit as a “blatant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty”.
Ukraine said attempts by Moscow and its media to present such visits as routine were “pathetic”.
Crimea was annexed from the Ukraine in 2014, triggering a wave of ultra-patriotism in Russia.
The Night Wolves, a right-wing nationalist bikers’ group close to President Putin, were prominent supporters of the annexation.
This year, they held their annual show in Sevastopol, the peninsula’s largest city.
