Ždanoka, a long-time Kremlin loyalist, was among 58 deputies who voted against the motion, with 494 in favor and 44 abstaining.
Following the atrocities carried out by Vladimir Putin’s regime against Ukrainian civilians, MEPs have recognised Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
On Wednesday, Parliament adopted a resolution on the latest developments in Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. MEPs highlighted that the deliberate attacks and atrocities committed by Russian forces and their proxies against civilians in Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and other serious violations of international and humanitarian law amount to acts of terror and constitute war crimes.
In light of this, they recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and as a state that “uses means of terrorism”.
As the EU currently cannot officially designate states as sponsors of terrorism, Parliament called on the EU and its member states to put in place the proper legal framework and consider adding Russia to such a list. This would trigger a number of significant restrictive measures against Moscow and have implications for EU relations with Russia.
In the meantime, MEPs call on the Council to include the Russian paramilitary organisation ‘the Wagner Group’, the 141st Special Motorized Regiment, also known as the “Kadyrovites”, and other Russian-funded armed groups, militias and proxies, on the EU’s terrorist list.
The resolution was adopted by 494 votes in favour, 58 against with 44 abstentions. Ždanoka did not speak in the debate on the matter, which you can watch here. Nor did any other Latvian MEPs.
For more information on the designation of states as sponsors of terrorism and similar legal frameworks in other countries, read the latest briefing by the European Parliament’s Research Service.
