BERLIN
Russia's comparison of Crimea and Jerusalem does not legitimize the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region, German Chancellor Angela Merkel's official spokesman has said.
The comments by Steffen Seibert on Friday came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared in a speech to the Russian parliament: "Crimea is to Russia what Jerusalem is to Muslims and Jews."
Describing Putin's speech as a "religious exaggeration", Seibert said Putin should know the Crimea belonged to "people of different religions" for hundreds of years.
Seibert said that Germany had stated its "clear stance on all aspects on the Ukraine-Crimea crisis and the conflict with Russia" for months.
Controversial poll
"Our politics is not against Russia," Seibet said, adding that Germany's politics sought to find a diplomatic solution in Crimea where human rights were being violated.
Russia took over Crimea in March after a controversial referendum, which drew the ire of international observers as Russian soldiers occupied the region during the voting process.
More than 4,000 people have been killed and at least 9,000 wounded in the conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine since mid-April, according to the UN.
The EU and the U.S. have imposed sanctions on Russia over its alleged role in stirring unrest in Ukraine.
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