On Tuesday, 10 May, Lithuanian Seimas unanimously voted in favour of the resolution that declares Russia’s war in Ukraine a genocide of Ukrainians and Russia – a country supporting and enacting acts of terrorism.
The resolution was passed with support from 128 Seimas deputies. None of the deputies who attended the meeting voted against it or abstained.
The resolution passed by the Seimas details that Russian armed forces and mercenaries have committed mass war crimes in Ukraine, especially in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Borodyansk and Hostomel.
According to the document, by killing off entire families, kidnapping and raping people, mocking people and the bodies of murdered and the dead, the goal is fully or partially exterminating the Ukrainian nation and breaking their spirit.
«The Seimas recognizes Russian Federation’s armed forces and its political and military aggression – war – against Ukraine as genocide of the Ukrainian nation,» the resolution states.
It also stresses that all criminals must be brought to justice and the international community must organize a special international war crime tribunal to investigate and assess the crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.
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Lithuania’s parliament invites giving this tribunal the authority to issue international arrest warrants and provide no immunity for the state, its leaders, government and other officials.
«Russian Federation, whose armed forces intentionally and systematically shell civilian targets, is a country that supports and commits acts of terrorism,» as concluded in the resolution of the Lithuanian Seimas.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and many civilian buildings have been destroyed. There are also reports of many instances of rape of Ukrainian women and children, as well as kidnappings and other crimes.
Similar resolutions have been passed by Latvia’s and Estonia’s parliaments.