Statement of the Riigikogu
On the War Crimes and Genocide
committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine
It has been ascertained that in the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against
Ukraine, systematic and massive war crimes have been committed against the people of Ukraine
by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. These crimes are ideologically incited by the
political and military leadership of the Russian Federation and its national propaganda authorities.
In the temporarily occupied territories, in particular the towns of Bucha, Borodyanka, Hostomel,
Irpin, Mariupol, and many other Ukrainian settlements, the Russian Federation has committed
acts of genocide, inter alia mass atrocities against the civilian population. These have consisted
of murders, enforced disappearances, deportations, imprisonment, torture, rape, and desecration
of corpses.
Proceeding from the Declaration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the national parliaments
of the world; guided by the principles of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
the Crime of Genocide and the standards of customary international law; keeping in mind the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and taking into account the responsibility
invested in all the countries under international law to cooperate in order to end genocide and
perpetration of crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Riigikogu:
– Recognizes as genocide against the Ukrainian people the actions of the Armed Forces of
the Russian Federation and its political and military leadership in conducting the renewed
military aggression against Ukraine from 24 February 2022;
– Calls on national parliaments and international organisations to recognise the crimes
committed by the Russian Federation against the Ukrainian people as genocide, to support
the investigation of these crimes, the prosecution of the perpetrators and the establishment
of an international court for this purpose in cooperation between countries;
– Calls on countries around the world to immediately strengthen the sanctions against the Russian
Federation, including by ending the trade of energy carriers with Russia with no exceptions;
– Calls on countries around the world to increase military assistance and humanitarian aid of
critical importance to Ukraine;
– Expresses deep respect to the Ukrainian nation in their fight for freedom, commemorates
the fallen and mourns the victims.
Jüri Ratas
President of the Riigikogu
Tallinn, 21 April 2022