Estonian parlt declares Russia a terrorist regime

TALLINN - On Tuesday, the Estonian parliament adopted with 88 votes a statement in which it condemned the annexation of the territories of Ukraine and declared Russia a terrorist regime.

None of the MPs voted against the statement, however, of those present at the sitting, MPs of the opposition Center Party Siret Kotka and Kersti Sarapuu and former Center member Mihhail Stalnuhhin abstained from the vote.

In the statement, the Riigikogu strongly condemns the military actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of the territories conquered during the aggression and declares that Estonia will never recognize the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine through aggressions and sham referendums.

"Violation of law can never create law. Putin's regime with its threats of nuclear attack has turned Russia into the biggest danger to peace both in Europe and in the whole world," says the statement, which was submitted by 85 members of the Riigikogu.

The Riigikogu supports the investigations initiated by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to identify the crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine and considers it necessary to prosecute those guilty of crimes of aggression in an international special tribunal.

“Supporting the appeal of the parliament of Ukraine to countries and international organizations, the Riigikogu declares Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a country that supports terrorism, whose actions we must confront together. The Riigikogu calls on the international community to adopt similar declarations," the statement reads.

In the statement, the Riigikogu also condemns the using of armed groups established with the support of the authorities of the Russian Federation, such as the Wagner Group, in the aggression, and considers it necessary to declare the armed forces of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics established by the Russian Federation as well as the Wagner private military company as terrorist organizations.

Furthermore, the statement of the Riigikogu condemns the declaration and implementation of mobilization by Russia's regime as breaches of international law, stating that mobilization carried out for the purpose of continuing the crime of aggression constitutes a crime against peace.

According to the statement, the Riigikogu supports the request to strip the Russian Federation of its status of a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and calls on the European Union member states to stand united in implementing additional economic sanctions and the sanctions against private individuals with regard to the Russian Federation and its ally Belarus, and to monitor the strict adherence to the sanctions put in place so far.

The Riigikogu calls on the European Union and NATO member states to decisively increase military aid to Ukraine, which is needed to stand against the aggression of the Russian Federation and to restore the sovereignty of Ukraine on its territory within its internationally recognized borders. The statement also says that it is necessary to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support the country during the post-war reconstruction.

"Estonia supports the people, the state, and the army of Ukraine with all the means available and believes in the victory of Ukraine as this is the only way to restore peace in Europe," the text of the statement reads.

This is the fourth statement the Riigikogu has adopted this year to condemn the activities of Russia and express support to Ukraine. On Jan. 18, the Riigikogu adopted a statement in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, initiated by 28 members of the Riigikogu; on Feb. 23, a statement on the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, initiated by 86 members of the Riigikogu; and on April 21, a statement on the war crimes and genocide committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, initiated by 84 members of the Riigikogu.