MPs aim to declare Russia a terrorist regime

TALLINN – Altogether 85 members of the Estonian parliament on Tuesday submitted a draft statement for legislative proceeding, condemning the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and declaring Russia a terrorist regime.

In the draft 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 avows that Estonia will never recognize the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine through aggressions or 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," the draft reads.

The draft declares that 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 call 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 draft reads.

In the draft statement, the Riigikogu also condemns using in the aggression any armed groups established with the support of the authorities of the Russian Federation, such as the Wagner Group, and considers it necessary to define 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.

The draft statement also condemns the declaration and implementation of mobilization by the Russian regime as breaches of international law, stating that the mobilization which is being carried out for the purpose of continuing the crime of aggression constitutes a crime against peace.

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 the additional economic sanctions and 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.

In the draft statement, 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 draft also refers to the need 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 draft statement reads.

The foreign affairs committee will discuss sending the draft statement to the plenary assembly for a debate and a vote on Tuesday afternoon.

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