Speakers of the Parliaments of seven countries call on holding Russia accountable for war crimes

The Speakers noted that Russia, emboldened by impunity, continued to blatantly violate principles of the UN Charter and mock fundamental human rights. “Russia, aided by its accomplices, continues its genocidal warfare against Ukraine and its people, threatening the continent and the world,” they say in the Joint Statement made in Vilnius.

According to the Speakers, the effectiveness of international guarantees for thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) at the mercy of Russian captors is seriously undermined, as Russia does not give sufficient access to the prisoners of war and hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), other international and humanitarian organizations operating in the temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation territories of Ukraine and in Russia. “The denial of access to internment facilities for independent monitors, combined with the adoption of broad amnesty laws for Russian servicepersons, contributes to impunity for systematic torture and ill-treatment of POWs,” they pointed out.

In the opinion of the Speakers, these war crimes reflect Russia’s state policy of terror and disregard for international law. “This is not the work of rogue soldiers – it is a deliberate state policy aimed at breaking Ukraine’s resistance through terror. The Kremlin not only allows these crimes but actively encourages them. Public figures in Russia have explicitly called for inhumane treatment, and even execution of Ukrainian PoWs, often using dehumanizing terms in public discourse and through State-owned media,” they wrote in the Joint Statement.

The Speakers of the Parliaments of seven countries underlined that the only way to stop these atrocities was by holding Russia accountable and ensuring Ukraine had the means to defend itself. “The international community must support Ukraine until its victory over the aggressor state and ensure accountability of perpetrators and masterminds for violations of international law. Only this way will lay the path towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe,” they said.

In the Statement, the Speakers urge Russia to implement its international commitments with respect to international humanitarian law, and adhere to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions. They also urge Russia to grant immediate and unhindered access for the ICRC and other relevant international organizations and mandate holders to the PoWs in order to fulfil their mandates in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russian Federation.

The Joint Statement was signed by President of the Riigikogu of Estonia Lauri Hussar, Speaker of the Eduskunta of Finland Jussi Halla-aho, Speaker of the Saeima of Latvia Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania Saulius Skvernelis, Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Szymon Hołownia, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Vice President of the Althing of Iceland Bryndís Haraldsdóttir. Tomorrow, the Speakers will attend the celebrations of the 35th anniversary of restoration of independence of Lithuania and deliver speeches at a festive sitting of the Seimas of Lithuania.

Text of the Joint Statement in Estonian and in English

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Speakers of the Parliaments of seven countries call on holding Russia accountable for war crimes

Source: Parliament of Estonia