On Thursday, 21 April, Latvia’s Saeima unanimously passed the statement on Russian Federation’s aggression and war crimes in Ukraine, while also voicing solidarity with Ukraine and its people. According to the Saeima, Russia is performing genocide of the Ukrainian people.
In its official statement, the Saeima voices support for the initiative of democratic countries to combine efforts in collecting and investigating evidence of war crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Members of the parliament welcome the International Criminal Court’s initiated investigation of war crimes committed in Ukraine, and hope that all those who are responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes will be brought to justice.
Latvia’s Saeima categorically condemns Russia’s military aggression and invasion of Ukraine, which was executed with assistance and involvement from the regime in Belarus, BNN was told by Saeima’s press-service.
The statement stresses that Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine’s territory is a gross violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is also a breach of Russia’s obligations detailed in provisions of the UN Charter and international law.
«Latvia and its residents have demonstrated our unbending support, loyalty and solidarity with Ukraine and its people. By passing this statement, unanimously passing, we continue doing this. We cannot forget about the current priority – protecting Ukraine’s residents from future crimes against humanity and helping Ukraine clear its territory from occupants,» said chairman of Saeima’s Foreign Affairs Committee Rihards Kols after the statement’s approval.
«This can be accomplished through immediate and expansive supply of arms to Ukraine and immediate ban of imports of Russian fossil fuels to the European Union. Continued financing of the Russian war machine is morally unacceptable and strategically short-sighted. To do this, western leaders will need considerable political courage,» stressed the head of the committee.
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«Delays with supplies of arms continued for months because people feared provoking Putin, but as atrocities from Russia’s side grew, this caution is no longer a valid reason and it does not justify allowing genocide within Europe’s very heart in Ukraine,» said Kols.
Latvian Saeima invites the Euro-Atlantic community and its partners to impose comprehensive sanctions against Russia to put a stop to its army’s ability to continue military aggression in Ukraine. Latvia also invites them to increase military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic support to Ukraine, while also supporting initiatives that condemn Russia’s military activities in Ukraine and isolate Russia from international and regional regional organisations, as well as taking measures against Belarus as a supporter of Russia’s military aggression.
Members of Latvia’s parliament also invite EU member states to immediately cease imports of Russian oil and gas.
In its statement, the Saeima condemns Russia’s abuse of veto right in the UN Security Council and invites speeding up reforms in the UN.
Saeima deputies referenced many testimonies and evidence of mass brutal crimes committed by the Russian army – killing, torture, sexual abuse of Ukrainian civilians, including women and children in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol and elsewhere. Latvia, as a member of the UN, European Parliament, European Union and NATO, and a country that defends democratic values finds the behaviour of the Russian Federation in mass killing of Ukrainian people unacceptable, the statement stresses.