Status: 02/23/2023 2:40 p.m
Russia’s participation in the OSCE meeting in Vienna caused sharp criticism: at the beginning there was talk of “aiding in a criminal attack” and “warmongers”. Ukraine was absent in protest – and had a statement read out.
Russian parliamentarians have been sharply criticized for their role in the war against Ukraine at a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). “Some parliamentarians are complicit in criminal attacks,” said the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Margareta Cederfelt, in Vienna.
In her opening speech, the Swedish parliamentarian also accused her Russian colleagues of having undermined civil rights, the media and elections. The assembly’s two-day meeting coincides with the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022.
criticism of Austria
Although numerous countries had demanded visa refusals for Russian MPs, Austria allowed nine delegates to enter the country from Moscow. According to the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, six of them are subject to EU sanctions. In protest against Russian participation, Ukrainian parliamentarians did not attend the meeting. Out of solidarity, Lithuanian MPs also stayed away from the conference.
“The presence of these warmongers in Vienna is an affront to everything the OSCE stands for,” said a statement from the Ukrainian delegation, which was read by a Slovakian MP at the meeting.
“They are here to spread their propaganda”
“They are not here for real dialogue or cooperation,” the Ukrainian delegates said. “They are here to spread their propaganda.” The Russian representatives wanted to justify the war crimes they had committed and to profane the principles of international law and human decency.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian delegation traveled to Vienna. In bilateral talks she wanted to continue to campaign for the suspension of the Russian representatives in the Parliamentary Assembly.
The OSCE, with its 57 member states, aims to prevent conflicts and strengthen democracy. It is the only regional security forum where NATO countries like the US regularly meet with Russia.
Host Austria had issued visas to the participants of the Russian delegation, although they are subject to sanctions by the European Union. 20 countries protested against the presence of the Russian representatives, including Great Britain, France and Canada. Austria stated that, as host, it was obliged to allow envoys from all OSCE member states to enter the country.