Latvian Parliament Recognizes Russia as Sponsor of Terrorism

The Parliament of Latvia has officially recognized Russia’s violence against the civilian population of Ukraine and other countries as terrorism, and Russia itself as a state sponsor of terrorism. 

Latvian legislators called on the Euro-Atlantic community and its partners to step up and introduce comprehensive sanctions against Russia.

They also called on EU member states to immediately suspend the issuance of tourist visas and limit the issuance of entry visas to citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus.

However, Russia has not yet received the international status of a state sponsor of terrorism – the U.S. can assign it. The list of countries sponsoring terrorism includes Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria.

On July 28, the U.S. Senate adopted a resolution calling on the U.S. State Department to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism because of its actions in Ukraine, Georgia, Syria, and Chechnya.

The Senate resolution is advisory, but puts pressure on Joe Biden’s administration – the White House must make the final decision.

According to U.S. media, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, told Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that if the State Department does not decide to take this step, Congress will recognize Russia a sponsor of terrorism.

The Ukrainian authorities, including President Zelensky, have repeatedly called for the Kremlin to be recognized a sponsor of terrorism.

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“Russia should be officially recognized as a terrorist state. No state in the world poses such a terrorist threat as Russia. No state in the world allows itself to destroy peaceful cities and ordinary human life with cruise missiles and rocket artillery every day,” President Zelensky assures.

The recognition of the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism would provide a ban on the supply of weapons. In addition, the export of dual-use goods would be controlled.

One more point relates to prohibiting the provision of assistance to a state sponsor of terrorism and the imposition of financial and other restrictions on it economically.

The most painful consequences of recognizing Russia as a country of terrorism are political. The country and its leaders will not “shake hands” with the United States and the allied nations. In addition, such status provides for the annulment of diplomatic relations, including visas for Russians.