Vice-President of the European Parliament Roberts Zīle stressed that this vote and this position towards Russia will serve as a significant signal for the Ukrainian government.
The Latvian MEP adds that comparing Russia to a terrorist state will make it easier, if need be, for the Ukrainian government to explain to those who push for negotiations with Kremlin that usually no negotiations are done with terrorists – they have to be beaten.
Another Latvian MEP – Inese Vaidere – participated in the preparation of the European Parliament’s resolution. She believes «the barbaric state» must be punished for what it has done. Vaidere said the Russian army is targeting Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure – hospitals, schools, energy infrastructure. She also accused Russian troops mass killings of civilians.
The intentional acts of terror committed by Russia against Ukrainian people every day, must not go unpunished.
«This is why in this resolution we invite developing new laws to bring Russia as a terrorist regime to justice,» said the Latvian MEP, stressing that the aggressor country must be isolated from the rest of the world even more and the sanctions already imposed should be tightened.
As BNN previously reported, Lithuania was the first Baltic country that announced the Russian war in Ukraine a genocide and Russia itself – a terrorist regime. Announcements were made on 10 May 2022. Latvia’s Saeima, on the other hand, officially called Russia’s violence against Ukrainian and other countries citizens terrorism and Russia – a state sponsor of terrorism – on 11 August. Estonia joined its neighbouring countries with similar announcements on 18 October.