Latvian Saeima recognized Russia as a state that supports terrorism

In an official statement today, August 11, the Latvian parliament recognized Russia’s violence against civilians in Ukraine and other countries as terrorism.

Russia itself was designated as a state that supports terrorism, Latvian media TVNET reports.

The statement “On Russia’s Targeted Military Strikes on Ukrainian Civilians and Public Space” was adopted earlier by the parliamentary commission on foreign affairs.

The document invites other like-minded countries to express the position that Russia is a state that supports terrorism.

The Saeima points out that “Russia deliberately strikes Ukrainian civilians, using suffering and intimidation as a tool in its attempts to demoralize the Ukrainian people and armed forces, paralyze the state’s ability to act and occupy Ukraine. Politicians point out that Russia uses this violence to achieve political goals”.

The MPs categorically condemn Russia’s military aggression and large-scale invasion of Ukraine carried out with the support and participation of the Belarusian regime, and call on the Euro-Atlantic community and its partners to urgently strengthen and impose comprehensive sanctions against Russia in order to stop the ability of the Russian army to continue its military aggression in Ukraine.

Politicians call for increased military, financial, humanitarian, and diplomatic support for Ukraine and support initiatives to condemn Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, hold those responsible accountable, isolate Russia from international and regional organizations, and make similar decisions and impose equivalent sanctions on Belarus as a supporter of Russian military aggression.

The Parliament recognized Russia as a state that supports terrorism, also due to Russia’s longstanding support and funding of terrorist regimes and organizations – Russia is the largest supplier of weapons to the Assad regime in Syria, has committed terrorist attacks in sovereign countries – the poisoning of the Skripal family in Britain and the downed Malaysia Airlines plane, which killed 298 people, were mentioned.

The statement adopted by the Saeima calls on the EU member-states to immediately stop issuing tourist visas and limit the issuance of entry visas to citizens of Russia and Belarus.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 11/08/2022