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

The presence of the Russian delegation in the OSCE PA, which voted in favor of the annexation of Ukrainian territories, is a disgrace, as it violates the principles that the institution is supposed to protect

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.