Ukraine boycotted the most recent assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, hosted in Vienna, over the presence of Russian lawmakers that they described as “an affront.”
Austria granted them visas although they’re below European Union sanctions and in spite of protests from 20 nations together with Britain, France and Canada.
The two-day assembly of the typically low-profile meeting coincides with the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Their presence aroused the anger of the delegates, and lots of of them left the room when the ground was once given to a Russian parliamentarian. Others, together with Latvian delegate Rihard Kols, voiced their anger:
“It’s a disgrace that this delegation is here, particularly the delegation that consists of members who are sanctioned individuals who voted to annex independent countries’ territories, Donbas, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Luhansk. Those are the principles this institution has vouched to protect and guard.”
Russian MPs weren’t invited to earlier OSCE conferences within the United Kingdom and Poland, however Austria, because the host nation of the organisation, claims to be certain via an “international agreement”.
“It is of course, difficult to sit with Russian parliamentarians who have blindly supported the Kremlin’s war,” stated Margareta Cederfelt, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President. “But it is important that the Russian MPs hear our message. I will be sure to let them know that we reject the war and that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly supports Ukraine.”
Outside the venue, demonstrators accumulated in entrance of the OSCE headquarters to denounce the presence of Russian deputies and the conflict crimes of Vladimir Putin.
