Vice-Speaker Olena Kondratiuk: Belgian Senate supports the establishment of an international special tribunal for the crime of russian aggression and is preparing to recognize russian private military companies as terrorist organizations
09 December 2022, 14:46
The Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk met with President of the Senate of Belgium Stephanie D'Hose during a working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium.
During the meeting the issues of cooperation between the two parliaments and assistance to Ukraine in its struggle against the aggressor were discussed.
Olena Kondratiuk told the President of the Senate that in Ukraine there are again emergency power cuts, because russia deliberately, cynically and barbarically shells energy facilities, depriving people of basic living conditions: electricity, water and heat.
"Since February 24, russia has fired over 5000 missiles at us. Most of the targets are civilian objects — this is the most common terrorism! Every parliament of the free and democratic world should give its clear assessment of these crimes against the civilian population of Ukraine," Olena Kondratiuk emphasized and appealed to the President of the Belgian Senate to consider and adopt a resolution on recognizing russia as a terrorist state. According to her, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expects that such a decision will be adopted by both chambers of the Belgian Federal Parliament.
"We hope that the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada to the UN, governments and parliaments of the EU countries and the Council of Europe on the establishment of a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine will be heard. We must jointly seek fair compensation for the damage caused to Ukraine as a result of the russian invasion," the Vice-Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament called.
In her turn, Stephanie D'Hose informed that the Belgian Senate is already working on the recognition of russia as a terrorist state.
Such a decision may be made next after the adoption of a separate resolution, which is being prepared for consideration in January 2023.
In it, the Belgian Senate will support the creation of an international special tribunal for the punishment of russian war criminals. It is also planned to recognize such russian private military criminal groups as "wagner" as terrorist organizations.
"Belgium constantly tells the truth to its people about the events in Ukraine and about who is to blame for this war and who started it. We cannot allow putin to keep Ukrainian territories, and we must make it impossible for russia to have economic ties with other countries, so that they could not replenish their military stocks. We will be with you to the end, no matter how long this struggle lasts," Stephanie D'Hose assured her Ukrainian colleague.
Olena Kondratiuk reminded that Belgium had closed ports for russian ships and stopped servicing them, froze 250 billion euros of financial transactions and assets of individuals and legal entities associated with russia.
The Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine also thanked Belgium for humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine.
"More than 60 thousand Ukrainians have received temporary protection in this country of Benelux. Belgium is also one of the first countries to provide military aid to Ukraine in the total amount of more than 100 million euros and to receive seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen for treatment.
We greatly appreciate Belgium's contribution to bringing our Victory closer!" said Olena Kondratiuk at the end of the meeting.
