Latvia designates Russia a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’

Vilnius  — Latvia’s parliament on Thursday designated Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism” over the war in Ukraine and called on Western allies to impose more comprehensive sanctions on Moscow to bring an end to the conflict.

“Latvia recognises Russia’s actions in Ukraine as targeted genocide against the Ukrainian people,” the Baltic nation's parliament said in a resolution. 

Western nations should increase their military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic backing for Ukraine and support initiatives condemning Russia's actions, it added.

Russia on Thursday condemned the resolution, calling it xenophobic. “Considering that there is no substance, except for animalistic xenophobia, behind this decision, it is necessary to call the ideologues nothing more than neo-Nazis,” foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram.

Millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes and thousands have been killed since Russia’s invasion in February. 

Moscow says it does not deliberately target civilians in what it calls its “special military operation”.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was grateful for the Latvian parliament’s resolution. “Ukraine encourages other states and organisations to follow suit,” Kuleba tweeted.

Reuters