You're reading: Aksyonov: Ukraine can’t claim any compensation for Crimea

Sergei Aksyonov, the head of the Republic of Crimea, has called the intentions of the Ukrainian administration to demand compensation from Moscow for the enterprises located in the region due to the peninsula's reunion with Russia "nonsense."

“These people just have a sick imagination. How can you demand compensation from Russia if the people of Crimea made their decision to stop being part of Ukraine independently? I am completely leaving out the fact that Ukraine has robbed Crimea for twenty years. It’s us who should demand compensation from them for lost time and lost opportunities,” Aksyonov told reporters in Simferopol on Friday.

Aksyonov declined to comment on the statement made by Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Natalia Sevostianova, who previously estimated the compensation at UAH 1 trillion (some $50 billion).

“I don’t want to comment on nonsense. They should not claim anything in Crimea, they won’t see anything,” Aksyonov said.