The European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism by a majority vote: 494 votes in favor, 58 against, and 44 abstentions at the plenary session in Strasbourg, writes Ukrinform.
Key facts
- “The European Parliament … expresses its unreserved outrage at and condemnation of these attacks and atrocities and the other acts that Russia has committed in pursuit of its destructive political aims in Ukraine and on the territory of other countries and recognizes Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and as a state which uses means of terrorism,” the document says.
- MEPs denounced the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP aimed at terrorizing the Ukrainian population and condemned Russia for making power plants military targets.
- They expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine and other victims of Russia’s aggression.
- The document calls on the Council of the EU to include the Wagner Group and other Russian-funded armed groups in the list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts which are subject to EU sanctions.
- MEPs stressed the need to hold those states, non-state actors and individuals who support and enable Russia’s armed aggression and strengthen its military capabilities to account.
- “The European Parliament … reiterates its call on the European Commission and the Member States to provide appropriate support to all legitimate international and national processes to investigate the crimes committed during Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, taking into account the need to bring all criminals to justice, as well as to provide adequate support for the establishment of a special tribunal dealing with the crime of aggression by Russia against Ukraine,” the Resolution says.
- At the same time, MEPs called on the European Commission and the Member States to work towards the establishment of a comprehensive international compensation mechanism, including an international register of damage, and actively cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities on this matter.
Context
On October 13, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution declaring the Russian regime a terrorist one. Thus, PACE became the first international organization that recognized Russia as a terrorist state. The resolution also included an amendment calling to provide Ukraine with air defense systems.
It is noted that PACE became the first international organization to recognize Russia as a terrorist state.
On November 21, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a special international tribunal for Russia’s aggression and recognizing it as a terrorist state. All 30 NATO member countries supported the proposals of the Ukrainian delegation.
Recently, European governments have been divided over the establishment of a special tribunal to bring Russian leaders to justice for war crimes committed by the occupiers during the invasion of Ukraine. Several EU diplomats said that some members of the bloc are wary of the mixed results of previous war crimes investigations.
A special international tribunal to try crimes committed by the Russian military and political leadership in Ukraine will start working this year, said Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Smirnov in an interview with Forbes.