European Parliament recognized Russia as a sponsor of terrorism – resolution adopted

On November 23, the European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing Russia as a sponsor of terrorism and a state that uses the means of terrorism. 

The resolution was supported by 494 members of the European Parliament, 58 voted against it, and 44 abstained.

So, the resolution was supported by an absolute majority of MEPs. It is reported on the official website of the European Parliament.

Russia is carrying out terrorist attacks against Ukraine

Indiscriminate attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure” in Ukraine

The resolution clearly stated that Russia carries out “indiscriminate attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure” in Ukraine. As a result, thousands of people have already been killed. 

In the occupied territories, the aggressors carry out “executions without trial, abductions, sexual violence, rape, torture, and other atrocities,” the resolution said. It also mentioned mass killings in Bucha, Irpen, Izium, and Lyman, as well as attacks on the Mariupol theater and the Kramatorsk railway station.

Russia violated the principles of the UN Charter

The authors of the project also stated that Russia violated the principles of the UN Charter, caused a humanitarian crisis in Mariupol and destroyed 95% of the city, blocked the access of Ukrainians to gas, electricity, water, and the Internet, as well as to basic goods and services.

Russian attacks targeted the civilian population – resolution

“The European Parliament stresses that the targeted attacks and atrocities carried out by the Russian Federation against the civilian population of Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and other serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law constitute acts of terror against the Ukrainian population and war crimes; expresses its unequivocal indignation and condemns these attacks and atrocities and other acts committed by Russia to achieve its destructive political goals in Ukraine and elsewhere.”

European Parliament called on the EU and its Member States to designate Russia as a sponsor of terrorism

In this regard, the European Parliament called on the EU and its Member States to develop a legal framework for designating states as sponsors of terrorism and states using the means of terrorism, which would entail a series of substantial restrictive measures against these countries and have profound restrictive consequences for the EU’s relations with these countries.

The European Parliament also calls on the Council of the EU to subsequently consider adding the Russian Federation to the EU list of state sponsors of terrorism, and on the EU partners to take similar measures.

European Parliament called on the EU called for international isolation of Russia

In addition, MEPs called on the EU and its Member States to take measures to initiate a comprehensive international isolation of the Russian Federation, including concerning Russia’s membership in international organizations and bodies, such as the UN Security Council, and to refrain from holding any official events on the territory of the Russian Federation.

“The European Parliament calls for the further reduction of diplomatic relations with Russia and the reduction of contacts with its official representatives at all levels to the absolute minimum necessary; calls on EU Member States to close and ban Russian state institutions, such as the Russian Centres for Science and Culture, as well as organizations and associations of the Russian diaspora, which operate under the auspices and guidance of Russian diplomatic missions and promote Russian state propaganda around the world,” the resolution says.

The ninth package of sanctions against Russia to be adopted

Also, given the escalation of Russian missile strikes on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, the European Parliament called on the EU to speed up work on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia.

After the approval, the President of the European Parliament is to send the resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Criminal Court, the President, the Government and the Parliament of the Russian Federation, the President, the Government and the Parliament of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s reaction to the resolution

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision of the European Parliament. He stressed that Russia uses terrorist means against Ukraine. “This state must be isolated at all levels and brought to justice to put an end to its long-term policy of terrorism in Ukraine and the world”, he said.

NATO Parliamentary Assembly and PACE recognized the Russian regime as a terrorist state earlier

On November 21, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly recognized the Russian Federation and its regime as a terrorist state.

On October 13, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe unanimously adopted a resolution in which the Russian Federation is called a terrorist regime. PACE became the first international organization to recognize Russia as a terrorist state.

Several parliaments of European countries, including the Senate of Poland and the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, have decided to recognize the authorities of the Russian Federation as a terrorist regime.