On Thursday, 6 March, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia adopted the Statement on Russia’s Aggression in Ukraine declaring that the Saeima strongly condemns the Russian Federation’s military aggression in Ukraine and stressing Latvia’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the legitimate power of the Verhovna Rada of Ukraine.
65 MPs voted in favour of the adoption of the Statement, 28 were against.
In the Statement, the parliament of Latvia notes that the situation in Ukraine is becoming increasingly critical and that by military aggression in the territory of another country, Russia is violating international law and the commitments it has undertaken, including those set forth in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances to Ukraine and the 1997 Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The Statement states that these actions are an illegal, deliberate and premeditated interference in the sovereignty of Ukraine with the aim of provoking a military conflict in order to occupy part or all of the territory of Ukraine.
The Saeima fully concurs with the Statement issued on 1 March 2014 by the President of Latvia, the Speaker of the Saeima, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Russia’s interference in Ukraine and calls on Russia to cease all forms of aggression and provocation against Ukraine, immediately return its army to its bases and comply with the commitments it has undertaken by international treaties.
The parliament of Latvia also urges the international community to express strong support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as urges the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to immediately deploy border observation missions to Ukraine in order to supervise compliance with the signed agreements.
Statement on Russia’s Aggression in Ukraine
Saeima Press Service