Latvian MP Rihards Kols at OSCE PA calls Russian delegates war criminals, suggests they “follow Russian warship”

Latvian MP Rihards Kols, who participated in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session, made an emotional statement and posted a video of his speech on Twitter.

Kols addressed the audience and condemned the fact that the Russian delegation – whom he called war criminals – was allowed to participate in the OSCE PA at all.

“The fact that this delegation is here, and especially the delegation consisting of sanctioned persons who voted to annex the independent country’s territories – Donbas, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia regions, Luhansk – is a disgrace! These are the principles that this institution was called upon to protect and defend! And we are sitting here as if nothing has happened!” Kols said. 

In the end, Kols suggested that the delegation “follow the Russian warship.”

“I will take this moment to apologize in advance, Mr. Chairman. I will convey a message to the Russian delegation sitting in this room, quoting the Ukrainian border guards: "Русский военный корабль, пошел нах*й (Russian warship, go f*ck yourself - ed.),” the Latvian MP added.

As noted by lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko, during the speech of the Russian delegation, most MPs left the hall in solidarity with Ukraine.

• The Ukrainian parliamentary delegation announced that it would not participate in the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to be held on February 23-24 in Vienna, in protest against the admission of Russian representatives. Instead, they will seek to expel the delegation from the organization. Due to the presence of Russians at the OSCE PA, the Lithuanian delegation also decided to boycott the meeting.

• Also on February 22, the Slovak Foreign Minister slammed Orban for his pro-Russian statements and published swear words in Russian. Hungary responded.