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“The Armed Forces and the brave people of Ukraine are now fighting for the right to live in their own country. Their goal is to liberate the occupied territories and establish peace. The victory of Ukraine is a victory for us as well. Only a full Ukrainian victory and total defeat of Russia will guarantee lasting peace in Europe,” emphasised Ināra Mūrniece, Speaker of the Saeima, on Tuesday, 25 October, in Zagreb in her address at the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform, which brought together over 30 different countries and international organisations.

“Our neighbouring country Russia has become a source of threat to peace and the international order,” noted the Speaker of the Saeima and affirmed Latvia’s condemnation of Russia’s occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea, which is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

We equally condemn and will never recognise the illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, emphasised Mūrniece.

It is absurd that a country that grossly violated the United Nations Charter and rules for international coexistence can still be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with veto rights, stressed Mūrniece. It is important to establish mechanisms so that Russia’s frozen assets could be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Russia must be held accountable for the war crimes and human rights violations committed in Ukraine, including the atrocities committed in Crimea since 2014, said the Speaker of the Saeima, noting that Latvia supports the establishment of a special tribunal.

Latvia’s support for Ukraine has reached almost one percent of the GDP, and we urge other countries to increase their support, stated Mūrniece.

The Speaker of the Saeima noted that the Crimea Platform was a good forum to bring to international attention and condemn the atrocities of war and rights violations. Latvia is and will continue to be an active supporter of the Crimea Platform initiatives, said Mūrniece.

Mūrniece highly praised the tireless work of the Crimean Tatar community to inform about the current situation on the peninsula. National parliaments must engage in the work of the Crimea Platform more actively and develop parliamentary support groups. We must ensure the right of Ukrainian citizens and the native people of Crimea—the Crimean Tatars—to live in their own home, noted the Speaker of the Saeima. In the Latvian Parliament, the Group for the support of the International Crimea Platform was established in May 2021.

The International Crimea Platform, established in 2021, is a government, parliament, and expert‑level coordination and consultation format.

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Saeima Press Service