Voice of America
11 Aug 2022, 23:37 GMT+10
Latvia's parliament declared Russia a state sponsor of terror Thursday for its targeted military attacks against civilians and public places
Lativia's unicameral parliament, known as the Saeima, approved a resolution noting that Russia has supported and financed terrorist regimes and organizations for years.
The Saeima used as examples Moscow's support for the Assad government in Syria shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and the poisoning of British intelligence agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in 2018.
The Saeima statement said Russia has now used "similarly ruthless, immoral, and illegal tactics in Ukraine, as it uses imprecise and internationally banned weapons and ammunition" on civilians. It also cites reports from human rights groups and international observers, which have documented atrocities committed by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians, "including torture, rape, killings, and mass detentions of civilians."
Latvian lawmakers said Russia uses "suffering and intimidation as tools in its attempts to demoralize the Ukrainian people." They recognize these acts against civilians "committed in pursuit of political aims as terrorism and Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and calls on other like-minded countries to express the same view."
They also called on the European Union and the West to "urgently intensify and implement comprehensive sanctions against Russia, as well as call on European Union member states to immediately suspend the issuance of tourist visas and restrict the issuance of entry visas to citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus, among other measures."
Latvia shares borders with both Russia and Belarus.
Russia insists it does not deliberately target civilians in what it calls its 'special military operation' aimed at safeguarding Russia's security and protecting Russian speakers in Ukraine.
Reuters news service reports Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, expressed his gratitude for the Latvian parliament's resolution.
Some information for this report was provided by the Reuters news agency.
Get a daily dose of Switzerland Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Switzerland Times.
More InformationDUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland has been praised for taking the lead with a law that would ban imports from Israeli-occupied territories....
PARIS, France: French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a covert campaign to damage the reputation...
HONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
Brussels [Belgium], July 11 (ANI/WAM): EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs will hold a meeting next Monday in Brussels, to be chaired by...
London [UK], July 11 (ANI): Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj paid a tribute to late Liverpool, Portugal footballer Diogo Jota following...
BRUSSELS, 11th July, 2025 (WAM) -- EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs will hold a meeting next Monday in Brussels, to be chaired by Kaja...
ATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...