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SARASOTA – A City Commissioner wants Sarasota to end its sister city relationship with Vladimir, Russia. 

In a letter sent to the President of the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, Commissioner Hagen Brody is asking to terminate its sister city relationship with Vladimir Russia. Sarasota and Vladimir have been sister cities since 1994.

“We do not discuss politics, we are non-political, we promote peace by getting people to know one another on a person to person basis,” said Sister Cities Association President, Miriam Kramer. 

President of the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, Miriam Kramer, says the two cities have participated in virtual activities like an online chess tournament, and a video call where they got took at pictures of the City of Vladimir. 

“What we do in our everyday exchanges and goals is promote peace that is all we do we promote peace and pleasant ties between people,” said Kramer. 

Sister Cities international was created during President Eisenhower’s White House summit on Citizen Diplomacy in 1956. Eisenhower believed relations between nation requires an understanding and mutual respect from individuals.

In Brody’s letter to Kramer, he recognizes Sister Cities mission as a noble one, however writes, “We cannot overlook this unprovoked military invasion by continuing our association with Vladimir, Russia…The City of Sarasota should immediately dissolve the relationship.”

Mayor of the City of Sarasota, Erik Arroyo says he wants to learn more about the relationship before deciding to support Brody’s proposal.

“We should be asking more questions, and seeing if that municipality that has been our sister city for so long even condones the actions of their country is doing because it’s important to ask questions,” said Mayor of the City of Sarasota, Erik Arroyo. 

The Sarasota City Commission will discuss the potential termination of their sister city relationship at their next scheduled meeting on March 7th.  

“It’s important that every commissioner’s voice be heard, especially when you have a topic such as this one, that is so important and appropriate for right now so I look forward to have this discussion on Monday,” said Mayor Arroyo. 

The City of Sarasota has several sister cities, including Tel Mond Israel and Merida, Mexico.