Following Latvia’s initiative, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has declares Russia as a state sponsoring terrorism, as confirmed by the head of Latvia’s delegation in the organisation Rihards Kols.
Kols said that in the Vancouver declaration OSCE PA recognised PMC Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation.
“Based on the Russian president’s own public statements about financing Wagner Group, the declaration also includes a section in which Russia is defined as a state sponsoring terrorism,” explains Kols.
Additionally, the declaration sharply condemns Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine. It also encourages OSCE member states to use solutions and mechanisms to bring Russia to justice for war crimes against Ukrainian people.
Kols said OSCE member states are invited to support the creation of a special international tribunal.
According to him, this is a critical time for OSCE PA, especially because Russia continues waging war on Ukraine. “The assembly should be united in on the fundamental principles established in Helsinki and international justice, freedom and democracy, and in its actions the organisation must be primarily committed in these internationally universally unifying values,” said Kols.
OSCE PA’s 30th anniversary session took place in Vancouver, Canada. Latvia’s delegation in OSCE PA is lead by Kols and members Ingrīda Circene and Lauris Lizbovskis.
The main topic on the agenda was Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and political, security and humanitarian consequences from it.
During the session OSCE PA also discussed topics related to regional security and its reinforcing, as well as aspects of creating a democratic and inclusive society. At the end of the session a declaration was passed that includes numerous recommendations for governments, parliaments and international society in general.
OSCE PA is the organisation’s parliamentary dimension. Its main objective is promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue to contribute to the achievement of the organization’s goals of comprehensive security.
The organisation includes 57 members states.
On the 24th of February 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country’s armed forces to commence an invasion of Ukraine. Putin claimed NATO was preparing to use Ukraine to go to war with Russia. According to Ukraine, however, Putin’s objective was to occupy and take over Ukraine.
Also read: VIDEO | Baltic anti-fascists invite people to sign up for war in Ukraine