Latvian parliament recognizes russia as state sponsor of terrorism

On August 11, the Saeima of Latvia approved a statement regarding russia's targeted military attacks against the civilian population in Ukraine

The EP reports, citing the press service of the Latvian parliament.

Thus, Latvia recognized russian violence against civilians as terrorism and russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Also, the parliament's statement contains a call to the EU countries to immediately suspend the issuance of tourist and entry visas to citizens of russia and belarus.

"russia has for many years supported and financed terrorist regimes and organizations in various ways—directly and indirectly—as the largest supplier of weapons to the Assad regime in Syria and as the perpetrator, for example, of poisoning the Skripal family or shooting down flight MH17.

russia has now used the same ruthless, immoral, and illegal tactics in Ukraine. Because it uses imprecise and internationally prohibited weapons and ammunition and attacks civilians and public places with disproportionate brutality," said Rihards Kols, Chairman of the Latvian Parliament's  Foreign Affairs Committee.

He also added that russia seeks to intimidate and demoralize the Ukrainian people and the armed forces and paralyze the functioning of the state to occupy Ukraine to achieve the goals of its illegal, aggressive war.

In a statement, the deputies note that since russia's military attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, 12 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes, and more than 5 million have been forced to leave their country.

During this time, several human rights organizations and international observer missions reported atrocities committed by russian troops against the Ukrainian civilian population.

The statement said these include torture, rape, murder, the mass detention of civilians in so-called filtering centers, and mass deportations.

As Rubryka reported, the Embassy of Latvia in russia has indefinitely suspended the issuance of visas to citizens of the russian federation.

We will remind you that the US Senate is putting pressure on the Biden administration to recognize russia as a sponsor of terrorism.

In late July, the US Senate unanimously approved a resolution calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to label russia a state sponsor of terrorism for its actions in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine.

The US State Department is responsible for designating countries as state sponsors of terrorism.

russia has threatened the United States with a break in diplomatic relations if it is recognized as a terrorist state.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Latvia on August 9–10, where he met with the president, prime minister, and head of the Republic's Ministry of Defense.

During the meetings, it was discussed, particularly russian aggression and support for Ukraine.

Read Rubryka's daily timeline of war: current news on Ukraine's defense against russia's aggression.