Finland MEP Anne-Mari Virolainen has called for Russian war criminals in Ukraine to be brought before an international tribunal.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday, October 13, Virolainen said Russian war criminals in Ukraine to be brought before an international tribunal and called Russia a “terrorist state.”
“As Ukraine demonstrates Russia’s incompetence on the battlefield, the Russian regime has started to behave like a terrorist by destroying Ukrainian infrastructure and killing civilians. Russia must therefore be designated a terrorist state,” Virolainen said.
The assembly was dedicated to debating the escalation of Russian military action in Ukraine.
Prior to the debate, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Assembly by video link and reiterated his proposal to establish an international tribunal to investigate Russian war crimes.
In his speech, Virolainen asked the Council of Europe to support the establishment of the tribunal proposed by Mr Zelensky.
“The perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions and peace talks can only begin on Ukraine’s terms. Our support for Ukraine is as unshakeable as a rock,” she said.
“Ukraine must be supported by all means necessary to push Russia out of an independent and sovereign country and to rebuild Ukraine.”
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