The Latvian Parliament, on Thursday, August 11, issued a declaration naming Russia as a sponsor of terrorism. The statement describes Russia’s military actions in Ukraine as acts of terrorism and designates Russia as a country that supports terrorism.
Members of the Seimas condemned the large-scale aggression and invasion with backing from the Belarusian regime and called on the Euro-Atlantic community and partners to urgently adopt and expand sanctions against Russia. The text emphasizes that Russia has long financed and supported terrorist regimes and organizations in various ways, pointing to the regime’s role in supplying weapons to the Assad government in Syria and involvement in the poisoning or murder of the Skripal family. Rihards Kols, the head of the Foreign Affairs Commission, framed the MH-17 incident within this broader pattern of state-sponsored terrorism.
The Parliament also urged EU nations to suspend visa issuance to Russians and Belarusians immediately.
Response from Moscow
Moscow has signaled retaliatory measures. A high-ranking Russian official described the Latvian deputies as provocative and suggested that Russia has significant economic leverage to pressure Latvia, a state he characterized as overly dependent on overseas powers. These remarks were reported by socialbites.ca, attributed to the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrey Krasov.
Another State Duma member, Oleg Morozov, argued that Latvia’s lawmakers should face the most stringent diplomatic and economic actions in response to what he called rude conduct.
Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council’s International Committee, recommended painful measures to demonstrate Latvia’s standing, including restricting the movement of goods through Russian territory. On Smolenskaya Square, his comments echoed a broader critique, with Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, describing the Latvian decision as rooted in xenophobia and labeling the ideologues as neo-Nazis.
Other nations accusing Russia
In May, Lithuania also labeled Russia a country that conducts terrorism, and its Seimas rejected the relevant proposal. Lithuanian officials characterized Russian actions as genocidal against Ukrainians and urged the world to establish a special court to address Russian aggression. The Lithuanian position calls for international arrest warrants and removal of immunity protections for authorities in such proceedings.
The Lithuanian stance asserts that Russia, by choosing civilian targets to bombard Ukrainian armed forces, is a state that sponsors and executes terrorism. The Seimas issued a statement reinforcing this view.
Further developments and potential steps
In July, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives discussed with the Secretary of State the possibility that recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism would trigger comprehensive restrictions. If a nation is placed on that list, defense exports face strict bans, dual-use goods controls tighten, and broader fiscal and trade penalties can apply. In addition, third countries that trade with a state sponsor may face sanctions.
U.S. and allied officials have continued to express concern about Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged questions about the legal criteria for declaring Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, noting that legal counsel is evaluating the case in the context of Ukraine. The dialogue underscores the evolving international approach to Russia’s conduct in the region.