OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 40: Follow-up OSCE PA Annual Session

OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2022-23 (2. samling)
OSCE Alm.del Bilag 40
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RESOLUTION ON

THE WAGNER GROUP’S TERRORISTIC NATURE AND ACTIONS

Emphasizing that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace

and security, and unequivocally condemning all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in

all of its forms and manifestations, wherever and by whomsoever committed, regardless of

their motivation, as criminal and unjustifiable,

Recalling that States bear the primary responsibility for preventing and countering terrorism,

violent extremism, and radicalization that lead to terrorism, while respecting their

obligations under applicable domestic and international law, including but not limited to

international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian

law, as well as relevant United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions,

Stressing the central role of the UN in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism

(CT&PVE), and recalling relevant UN resolutions such as Security Council Resolution 1566

(2004), in particular paragraph 3 on,

inter alia,

criminal acts to intimidate people or

governments, and Security Council Resolution 2462 (2019) urging states to take into account

the potential effect of counterterrorism measures on exclusively humanitarian activities,

Underscoring the complementarity of the counterterrorism legal framework with

international humanitarian law (IHL), where relevant, and recalling that all acts or threats of

violence against civilians with the primary purpose of spreading terror among the civilian

population are prohibited according to IHL,

This resolution was adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly at the 30th Annual Session (Vancouver, 30

June to 4 July 2023) as a part of the

Vancouver Declaration and Resolutions.

OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 40: Follow-up OSCE PA Annual Session - Wagner Group

Recalling this Assembly’s Luxembourg Declaration, adopted at the 28th Annual Session,

which referenced the obligation held by States to ensure “that PMSCs [private military and

security companies] operating in or from their territory act in accordance with international

humanitarian law, human rights law and customary international law,

Highlighting that the Wagner Group, a self-described private actor, undertakes military

action and subversive operations, to further the overt and covert foreign policy goals of the

Government of the Russian Federation, though private military companies are technically

banned under Russian law,

Emphasizing that the President of the Russian Federation has publicly admitted – after years

of Kremlin denials – that the Wagner Group had been “fully funded” by the Russian State,

with the Wagner Group receiving over 86 billion Russian roubles, or over US$1 billion, from

the State budget in one year, thus clearly making the Russian State responsible for the acts

of the Wagner Group abroad,

Noting the direct ties between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Wagner

Group, established by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of the President of the Russian

Federation, including Wagner’s use of Russian Federation military infrastructure, advanced

Russian weapons systems, including tanks and combat aircraft, and close institutional

relationships with the Russian Federation’s military intelligence service, the GRU,

Affirming that the activities of the Wagner Group are terroristic in nature, as they are

characterized by premeditated violence committed against noncombatants in the pursuit of

political objectives,

Denouncing the deliberate, systematic and criminal atrocities and violations of human rights

attributed to Wagner Group personnel while conducting operations in Ukraine in furtherance

of the interests of the Government of the Russian Federation,

Underlining that the Wagner Group’s recruitment of prisoners for its operations in Ukraine

also increased its propensity for the commission of atrocities and war crimes,

Emphasizing that the Wagner Group and its affiliated entities have also committed, or are

credibly accused of committing, predatory and terroristic activities in numerous other

locations, including Mali, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya, the Syrian Arab

Republic, Mozambique and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,

Highlighting that the actions that Wagner Group operatives are credibly accused of

committing include, but are not limited to, heinous acts of violence and human rights

violations against civilians such as mass atrocities, summary executions, mutilations, sexual

violence, destructions of homes, kidnapping, torture, human trafficking and the murder of

journalists,

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OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 40: Follow-up OSCE PA Annual Session - Wagner Group

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Noting European Parliament Resolution of 23 November 2022, which calls on the European

Council to include the Wagner Group, inter alia, on the EU list of persons, groups and entities

involved in terrorist acts (EU terrorist list),

Welcoming ongoing efforts in various national parliaments to address the terroristic actions

of the Wagner Group, including the legislatures of Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, France,

Canada, Belgium and the United States,

Taking positive note of the official visit of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Countering

Terrorism to Switzerland on 21–22 March 2023, in which,

inter alia,

the terroristic nature

of the Wagner Group’s operations was repeatedly pointed out,

Also commending the goal-oriented partnership established by the OSCE PA with the OSCE

executive structures and with relevant UN organs and agencies, and especially the 2022/23

OSCE PA Presidency of the Coordination Mechanism of Parliamentary Assemblies on

CT&PVE as an excellent opportunity to better coordinate relevant parliamentary actions

across the globe,

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The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:

18.

Determines that the actions of the Wagner Group on behalf of the Russian government can

rightly be characterized as terroristic in nature and intent, and that designation of the Wagner

Group as a terrorist organization by national authorities is therefore justified;

Strongly condemns the Belarusian Government for its support and permission for the

construction of a military base on its territory by the Wagner Group, endangering the entire

region of the Baltic countries;

Calls on OSCE participating States, in accordance with international and national legislation

and without prejudice to the applicability of IHL, to take action against the Wagner Group

and its affiliated and successor entities, including through its designation as a terrorist

organization;

Urges OSCE participating States to make full use of all domestic and international

instruments, including those established to counter terrorism, to thwart the malign presence

of the Wagner Group (and its affiliates and successors) wherever it operates and ensure

accountability for all those responsible for the crimes they have committed;

Encourages OSCE participating States to reinforce international norms which clearly

recognize the terroristic nature of the Wagner Group and its actions, the responsibility of the

Russian Federation as the State sponsor of said terrorist organization, and the inadmissibility

of employing such actors in inter-State relations;

Decides that the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism, with the support

of the International Secretariat, shall remain seized of this matter and support the

implementation of this resolution as appropriate.

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