On Wednesday, 19 February, the European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the Statement on the situation in Ukraine stating that their deeply regret and strongly condemn the injuring and killing of civilians during clashes in Kiev. The responsible parties must be brought to justice. The Committees fully support the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia to provide medical care and cover related costs to ten injured Ukrainian protesters, and they urge the Cabinet of Ministers to expand the scope of medical assistance for the victims of violence in Ukraine.

The night of 18 February 2014 has been a tragedy for both the Ukrainian people that experienced it and the Ukrainian authorities that allowed it to happen. In their Statement, the Committees strongly condemns violence and call on all involved parties to cease such actions immediately in order to avoid further casualties. The only possible solution to the crisis is a return to dialogue, which is the only means of avoiding further escalation of violence and an increase in the number of casualties.

Taking into consideration that a meeting of the UN Security Council is taking place on 19 February 2014 in New York, USA, as well as the gravity of the situation, in the Statement the European Affairs Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee call on the UN to get involved in resolving the situation in order to end and avoid further escalation of violence resulting in more casualties in Ukraine.

Concurrently, the Committees urge Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to hold an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council to consider imposing sanctions on the Ukrainian officials responsible for the use of excessive force against the protesters in Kiev.

The Committees also call on the governments and parliaments of the EU member states to strongly condemn the violence in Kiev and, by upholding EU values and expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people, to jointly decide on imposing financial sanctions and limiting the freedom of movement of the Ukrainian officials responsible for the use of excessive force against the protesters in Kiev.

In the light of events taking place in Ukraine, the Committees extend their condolences to the families of victims.

Saeima Press Service