Lithuanian MPs voice solidarity with Prague, want Russia declared terror sponsor

VILNIUS – Lithuania's parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday that they stand in solidarity with the Czech Republic in the face of Moscow's aggressive policy and called on parliamentarians in EU and NATO member states to declare Russia a state sponsor of terror. 

The statement says that Russia is currently "waging an open hybrid war against Western democracies using chemical, cyber, information and other hybrid means."

"A united response by EU and NATO member states to such actions by the Russian Federation is necessary, because silence, disregard and impunity further encourage such actions," it reads. 

The committee urged Western parliamentarians "to declare that the leadership of the Russian Federation supports terrorism and terrorist acts against Western democracies".

It also called for continuing sanctions against Russia to deter it from possible attacks in the future until the country fulfils its obligations under international law. 

Citing an intelligence report, the Czech government has said that Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, orchestrated two explosions in 2014, one of which killed two people and caused extensive material damage.

Therefore, Prague has expelled 18 Russian diplomats identified by Czech intelligence as secret agents.