On Tuesday, 7 November, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Head of the Group for promoting cooperation with the Parliament of Germany, met with Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, Chair of the Justice Committee of the Bundestag, and the Committee members, and discussed the next steps to prosecute Russia for the crimes of aggression committed in Ukraine. 

Latvian and German parliamentarians were united in support of Ukraine and expressed support for ensuring accountability. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica proposed that “An international tribunal established within the framework of the UN would be the most appropriate, as it could, in accordance with existing international case-law, apply an exception to the personal immunities of the Russian leaders – the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. They must be held accountable for the crimes of aggression against Ukraine.”

Next week, a meeting will be held in Berlin on the most appropriate model of the tribunal. Three different models for the establishment of the tribunal are currently being discussed internationally. Therefore, it is particularly important to reach an agreement in the negotiation process that would allow for the establishment of a tribunal and bringing Russian leaders to justice, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica said.

We are pleased to work side by side with Germany and continue to strongly support Ukraine, said Kalniņa-Lukaševica. “It is essential to jointly develop a compensation mechanism and find a legal solution to confiscate the frozen Russian funds and redirect them to the reconstruction of Ukraine. The return of the Ukrainian children stolen by Russia to their families is another burning issue,” emphasised the Deputy Speaker of the Saeima.

Peter Heidt, Head of the German-Baltic Parliamentary Group, and Tobias Winkler, Member of the German-Baltic Parliamentary Group, also participated in the conversation.

Kalniņa-Lukaševica, together with the delegation, is visiting Berlin until 8 November, to discuss with German officials the possibilities of Latvia and Germany to expand economic relations, cooperation in the field of energy production and research, as well as further steps in support of Ukraine.

The Deputy Speaker is accompanied by Jana Simanovska, Chair of the Group for promoting cooperation with the German Parliament, and members of the Group – Juris Viļums and Jānis Vucāns, who also chairs the Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee.

Saeima Press Service