The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Nikita Poturaev, announced that Kyiv plans to skip the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly sessions in protest of Austria’s visa stance toward Russian representatives. Reports from TASS have noted the tension around visa issuance and participation rights within the assembly, signaling a potential protest move by Ukraine. Kyiv argues that the approach taken by Austrian authorities creates a divide that undermines the integrity of the OSCE PA and its commitment to inclusive, rule-based cooperation among euro-atlantic states. This situation has prompted Ukrainian officials to stress that any meaningful dialogue within the assembly must rest on uniform access rights for all member delegations and compliant adherence to agreed procedures. As a result, there is growing consensus in Kyiv that postponing the winter parliamentary meeting may be the only viable option to preserve the assembly’s principles while avoiding a politicized participation scenario that could compromise the organization’s credibility.
Poturaev conveyed in a formal letter to the Assembly’s President, Margareta Sederfelt, that new reports indicating Austrian readiness to issue visas to members of the Russian delegation would allow them to attend the winter session. In Kyiv’s view, allowing one delegation to participate under a particular visa regime while others are barred constitutes a double standard that erodes the fundamental norms of equal treatment and parliamentary legitimacy. The Ukrainian side therefore urged postponement of the gathering to avert a scenario in which the OSCE PA’s integrity and commitments could be jeopardized by selective access. This position aligns with Kyiv’s insistence that any resolution must reinforce the assembly’s core values rather than become a stage for political signaling. The decision to push back the meeting is framed as a prudent move to protect the institution’s long-standing role as a multilateral forum for dialogue, restraint, and accountability.
The forthcoming OSCE PA gathering is scheduled to take place in Vienna on February 23-24 and is expected to center attention on the ongoing Ukrainian crisis. The prior session, held in Warsaw from November 24-26, faced a direct impasse when the Russian delegation was denied visas, a development that prevented the assembly from concluding its business at that time. Kyiv notes that even then the Standing Committee could not decide on ending Russia’s participation in the organization, underscoring the delicate balance between security concerns, diplomatic norms, and the procedural requirements of a multinational parliamentary body. Delegations from roughly twenty countries have emphasized that Austria’s stance on Russian participation should be reconsidered to ensure equal treatment and a consistent application of the OSCE PA’s rules.