In a statement on the 100th day of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, PACE President Tiny Kox has again called on the Russian authorities to immediately bring the war to an end, and issued a strong appeal for the restoration of peace with justice.
“By this blatant violation of international law, Russia crossed a red line with the Council of Europe and was therefore expelled from Europe’s oldest and widest treaty organisation, which obliges member States to pursue peace by upholding the rule of law, human rights and democracy,” he said.
“Today I again call on the Russian authorities – the President, Government, Parliament – and on all Russian citizens to immediately end this war of aggression against our member State of Ukraine. There is not a single reason to continue this war, which should never have been started.”
He added: “Tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens and soldiers have been killed, injured or mistreated since the beginning of this conflict. Horrific war crimes have been committed against innocent civilians. Millions have been forced to leave their homes and even their country. The scale of devastation is enormous.
Thousands of Russian soldiers have also lost their lives, and all Russian citizens have lost their fundamental right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights when they feel their rights have not been respected by the Russian authorities.”
The President concluded: “Every day this war lasts is a day too much. Every day it continues will be an additional crime against the people and state of Ukraine and against international law. Stop the war, restore peace, let justice be done!”