After a speech by President Zelensky and an emotional debate, PACE adopted a resolution. In it, he identified the “current Russian regime as terrorist” and demanded that Ukraine be provided with air defense.
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) called “the current Russian regime a terrorist” in its resolution. This amendment to the text of the resolution “The further escalation of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine” was adopted during the debates at the meeting held on Thursday, October 13 in Strasbourg.
In addition, the text of the resolution calls on the national governments of the member states of the Council of Europe to provide Ukraine with air defense systems, and also points out that Russia is illegal in the UN Security Council, because “it attacked the area. of the former USSR without formal legal procedures.” 97 deputies voted for the resolution, two abstained.
Punishment for war crimes is guaranteed
This document, perhaps, became one of the toughest in the entire history of the Council of Europe: the assembly called on the member states of the Council of Europe to take decisive and concrete actions. As the author of the resolution, the Lithuanian deputy from the European People’s Party, Emmanuelis Zingeris, emphasized, “this is certainly a resolution that is a worthy reaction of PACE to the atrocities and atrocities of the Russian army in Ukraine.”
As mentioned in the resolution, the “Russian regime” through its actions outside the country and inside Russia itself aims to create an atmosphere of great fear among the population in order to achieve its own political goals. PACE condemned the latest aggravations that have befallen the Russian Federation: a massive rocket attack on Ukraine, the holding of “referendums” and the illegal annexation of parts of four Ukrainian regions, the Kremlin’s threats to launch a nuclear strike. In the text of the document, PACE reaffirmed its firm support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
At the same time, PACE calls on member states to create a “comprehensive system of responsibility for serious violations of international law,” which would make it possible to punish all representatives of Russian authorities involved in crimes in the war made in Ukraine.
“Kremlin influences international organizations”
Despite the fact that on March 16 Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe for unleashing a war, the document contained an appeal to the Russian authorities demanding “immediate and unconditional cessation of aggression against Ukraine.” In total, the resolution contains 17 points calling on the Russian Federation to stop war, attacks, blackmail, threats, persecution and return to the framework of law, cooperating with relevant international bodies.
In addition, the meeting concluded that the Kremlin uses Russians working in international organizations to “support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, spread false information and Russian narratives about it.” Therefore, due to the “gravity of the world situation”, the PACE resolution calls on international organizations to “consider appropriate measures to prevent the Russian regime from using Russian personnel as a tool to support Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, to spread Russian disinformation and narratives and influence political decisions by these organizations.”
Zelensky: “There is no diplomacy in Russia”
Before the debate on the resolution, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the representatives of the assembly via video link. He urged PACE members to do everything possible to ensure Russia’s international isolation and further reduce the Russian Federation’s ability to finance the war. According to him, the Kremlin should “see zero in its oil and gas charges to make the world think.” “Diplomacy is a powerful tool, but only when weapons are silent. There can be no diplomacy in Russia today, because there is no respect for leaders who kill, take and do not respect international law,” said the President of Ukraine, who noting that “Some countries” continue to talk to Moscow, “as if nothing is happening.”
Zelensky believes that isolation from Russia will help ordinary Russians understand “that this war is happening in Ukraine because of the leadership they elected.” “Russia only wants to speak the language of terrorism. This fact must be recognized at all levels. Politically, legally and on the battlefield in Ukraine, and by supporting our defense capabilities,” said Ukrainian president. He also called for the Russian Federation as an aggressor state and “every one of the Russian killers” to be held accountable for all the crimes of this war.
“Mr. Putin, you despise your own people”
The speeches of PACE representatives during the debates were less emotional than the speech of the Ukrainian president. “The biggest surprise for Putin, apart from the brave resistance of the Ukrainians, is the unity of Europe, so we have to continue and not stop,” said Indrek Saar, an Estonian deputy from the Socialist group. He warned the international community against pushing Kyiv toward an “immediate ceasefire at any cost” because that would be “a road to hell paved with good intentions,” he said.
A group of PACE deputies visited Ukraine this summer, and among them was the representative of Croatia (a group of socialists), Domagoj Gaidukovich. He called what he saw in Makarov, Bucha and Irpin “genocide and a crime against humanity.” “This requires punishment of those who committed them, in addition, we need to think about the restoration of Ukraine, because we cannot restore human life, but we can rebuild the liberated territories,” said the deputy. He is convinced that the occupied parts of the four Ukrainian regions should be returned to Ukraine “by diplomatic or military means.” “Until this is over, the war will not stop,” the Croatian politician believes.
Spanish MP Paulo Pisco addresses Russian President Vladimir Putin from the PACE rostrum. “Mr. Putin, you lied to your people and said that this war is a special military operation, but you have tens of thousands of dead, your troops’ morale is low, because they don’t want to die for your sake . Imperial ambitions. You want to restore the greatness of Russia, instead of destroying the future of your people, whom you absolutely despise,” said the deputy. According to the Spanish politician, “even China has turned away” from Moscow because of the barbarism, killing and destruction in Ukraine. “Mr. Putin, you will be tried for your crimes, for the war you started for no reason. And the only place in history that awaits you is a prison,” the spokesman summed up.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.