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“Russia’s atrocities have not crushed the bravery of Ukraine’s defenders. Likewise, we must not show doubt in response to Russia’s aggression. Russia will interpret our doubt as a chance. A chance to sooner or later break our courage and our resolve with threats and atrocities,” stated Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 24 October, addressing the participants of the Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform in the Czech capital Prague.

“We can show our steadfast, lasting support with a common message and decisions about the future of Ukraine, the place of Ukraine in the EU and NATO. We can show our long-term support with decisions that will ensure Russia’s complete accountability for the crimes it has committed in Crimea and other temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine,” noted Mieriņa, underlining that such messages and decisions have the power to deter crime, and they strengthen the rules-based international order.

“We must continue exposing Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea, we must continue exposing the countless and systematic human rights violations, the deportations, the displacement of children, the forced changes in the peninsula’s population structure, the repressions against Crimean Tatars, and the militarisation of the peninsula,” expressed the Speaker of the Saeima.

Mieriņa highlighted that we, Latvians, not only deeply understand, but can also feel the suffering of the Crimean Tatars and all Ukrainians, because identical repressions of the Soviet regime have left permanent scars in the memory of our people as well. Unfortunately, today Russians are acting by the handbook of atrocities and war crimes that Latvian people know only too well.

Until 24 October, Daiga Mieriņa is in Prague, where she is participating in the Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform. Today, its participants adopted a Declaration, expressing support for international investigation into the war crimes, human rights violations and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Russian occupying authorities in Ukraine. Summit participants expressed commitment to providing Ukraine with all assistance needed in achieving membership of the European Union.

The Declaration calls on other states and interparliamentary organisations to join the International Crimea

Platform; reaffirms the resolute dedication of the Summit participants to the principle of non-recognition of the attempted illegal annexation of Crimea, as well as attempts to illegally annex other Ukrainian territories; and demands that the Russian Federation immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraws all its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, including Crimea. In addition, the parliamentarians reiterate their commitment to supporting the further strengthening of sanctions against Russia and apply other diplomatic and economic measures to exert pressure on Russia.

The International Crimea Platform, established in 2021, is a government, parliament, and expert‑level coordination and consultation format. The purpose of the parliamentary dimension of the International Crimea Platform is to raise awareness among the world leaders and society at large about Russia’s illegal occupation in the territory of Crimea, its negative impact on the human rights of locals, security in the Black Sea Region, global food security, and the rules-based international order.

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Saeima Press Service