V. Putin’s inauguration will take place on May 7. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the representatives of the states residing in Russia, as well as Lithuania, received invitations to participate in it.
“The Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Moscow has received an invitation to participate in V. Putin’s inauguration. To the knowledge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, invitations have been received by the heads of representative offices of states residing in the Russian Federation (together with the invitations, requirements to carry out COVID tests in the relevant laboratories the day before)” – Delphi commented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The representatives of Lithuania and the Baltic countries as a whole do not intend to participate in V. Putin’s inauguration, the ministry noted.
“The “elections” of the President of Russia that took place on March 15-17 this year were neither free nor fair, they were held with continued repression against the opposition and independent media, in the absence of real alternative candidates and international observers.
In addition, the organization of “elections” of the Russian president in the temporarily occupied and illegally annexed territories of Ukraine, the occupied territories of Sakartvel and Moldovan Transnistria is a serious violation of international law, the UN Charter and the sovereignty of Ukraine, Sakartvel, and Moldova.
In addition, it should be emphasized that V. Putin is subject to EU sanctions for his role in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for V. Putin for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children and the illegal transfer of children from the territory of Ukraine. These criminal activities are equated with war crimes.
Lithuania has joined the Rome Statute and recognizes the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. In this context, we believe that the isolation of Russia, and especially of its criminal leader, must be continued.
Participation in V. Putin’s inauguration is not acceptable for Lithuania. Our priority remains support for Ukraine and its people fighting against Russian aggression,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the reasons.
It is announced that representatives of the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and Canada will not participate in the inauguration. The European Union has not yet given an official position on the matter.
In the Russian presidential election held in March, 87.28 percent voted for V. Putin. voters – the largest in the history of post-Soviet Russia. Voters opposed to V. Putin protested, damaged ballots, and were arrested.
The United States of America has condemned the elections held in Russia as “undemocratic” and said it will not congratulate Vladimir Putin, who was declared the winner.
Brussels also condemned the “elections”, saying they had been held in an “ever-shrinking political space” and with “violations of civil and political rights growing at an alarming rate”, stifling opposition and limiting access to accurate information.
True, V. Putin was congratulated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Moscow appreciated that the presidential election showed that Russians unanimously support V. Putin after the attack in Ukraine lasting more than two meters.
Tags: Ministry Foreign Affairs confirmed Baltic countries participate Putins inauguration
