Austrian Parliament adopts resolution calling for return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia

The Austrian parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work to return the Ukrainian children abducted to Russia and bring those responsable for the illegal deportation to justice for these crimes.

The resolution calls on the Austrian government to continue to advocate at all levels for the protection and support of Ukrainian children in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In addition, the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs should continue to advocate for the return of deported children and support the prosecution of such crimes under international criminal law.

The draft resolution was submitted jointly by four of the five parties of the National Council – the Austrian People’s Party, the Social Democratic Party of Austria, the Greens and NEOS.

The far-right and pro-Russian Austrian Freedom Party, although not a co-author of the document, eventually also voted in favor of the resolution.

In March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian president Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, who is the Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights and is also accused of war crimes related to the illegal deportation and illegal transfer of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories to Russia.