On Wednesday, 13 April, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima unanimously adopted a statement on aggression and war crimes of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, expressing solidarity with Ukraine and its people. In its statement, the Committee acknowledges that Russia is currently committing genocide against the Ukrainian people and calls on the Member States of the European Union to introduce comprehensive sanctions against Russia immediately.
"Today, in the 21st century, we are witnessing the most serious crimes against humanity in Europe. Words cannot describe the crimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, targeting civilians — mostly women and children — with inhuman brutality," said R.Kols at the Committee meeting, stressing that every effort must be made to stop the Russian war machine and put an end to the Russian offensive in Ukraine. The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee indicated that discontinuation of oil and gas imports would be a substantial step towards achieving this goal.
"Ukraine must be supported by military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic means. The punishment of everyone who committed war crimes and who is responsible for their execution or a failure to prevent them must be inevitable," said R.Kols.
In the Committee statement, MPs strongly condemn Russia’s military aggression and the large-scale invasion of Ukraine with the support and engagement of the Belarusian regime.
The statement underlines that Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukrainian territory constitutes a gross violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is in clear contradiction with Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter and international law.
The Foreign Affairs Committee also calls on the Euro-Atlantic community and its partners to impose urgent comprehensive sanctions against Russia in order to stop its army’s ability to continue military aggression in Ukraine. This includes calls for increased military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic support to Ukraine, for unanimous support for initiatives condemning Russian military actions in Ukraine and isolating Russia from international and regional organisations, as well as for equivalent decisions and sanctions against Belarus as a supporter of Russian military aggression.
The statement supports the initiative of democratic states to pool efforts in gathering and investigating evidence of war crimes committed by the Russian army throughout the territory of Ukraine. Similarly, the statement applauds the International Criminal Court’s investigation into war crimes committed in Ukraine, and expresses confidence that all those who have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as those responsible for their execution or failure to prevent them, will be held accountable.
In the statement, the Foreign Affairs Committee condemns Russia’s abuse of veto rights in the UN Security Council and calls for speeding up the implementation of UN reforms.
Furthermore, MPs refer to extensive testimonies and evidence of massive brutal crimes committed by the Russian army — murders, torture, sexual violence and desecration of Ukrainian civilians, including women and children, in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, and elsewhere. Latvia, as a member state of the UN, the Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO, which defends democratic values, cannot accept the actions of the Russian Federation in implementing the mass destruction of Ukrainian people, says the statement.
In the statement, the Foreign Affairs Committee pays tribute to the courage and heroism of Ukrainian defenders and citizens, and commemorates all victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
The Commission decided to submit the Communication for further consideration by the Saeima.
Saeima Press Service