Latvian parliament declares Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism'
The Hindu
The Latvian parliament statement also condemned the use of cluster munitions by Russian forces
Latvian MPs on Thursday declared Russia a "state sponsor of terrorism" whose actions in Ukraine constitute "targeted genocide against the Ukrainian people".
The statement MPs adopted said the parliament "recognises Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, and calls on other like-minded countries to express the same view".
Voting by 67 in favour and none against or abstaining in Latvia's unicameral legislature, MPs said they considered "Russia's violence against civilians committed in pursuit of political aims as terrorism".
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hailed the vote as a "timely move".
"Ukraine encourages other states and organisations to follow suit," he said on Twitter.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman condemned the vote as "primal xenophobia", adding, "It is necessary to call the ideologues nothing but neo-Nazis."
The Latvian parliament statement also condemned the use of cluster munitions by Russian forces, saying they were intended "to sow fear and indiscriminately kill civilians".
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