Liberia demands Russia immediately halt aggression and restore Crimea to Ukraine

On October 24, 2024, the Third Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform was held in Latvia, gathering over 70 delegations, including 36 heads of parliaments, both in-person and online.

The summit participants discussed current challenges related to the occupation of Crimea, human rights violations in the occupied territories, and the international response to Russia’s actions. 

Michael Thomas, Chair of the juridical committee of the Legislative Assembly of Liberia, reminded the delegates that it is stated in the United Nations Charter that all member states shall be free in their international relations from the threats of the use of aggressive force against their territorial integrity and sovereignty.

ZMINA publishes his speech at the Third Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform.

Madam Speaker.

It is an honour to be here today, representing the government and people of the Republic of Liberia. I bring you greetings from the President, the Chief Justice, and the Speaker of the 55th National Legislature of Liberia. I am proud to represent my Speaker, who is currently on an international business trip with the President of Liberia, having just returned from a visit with the Pope in Rome […].

This gathering of parliamentarians in Riga today marks a significant milestone in the global attention and effort to address issues of territorial aggression that contravene international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter.

Three years ago, the International Crimea Platform was established as a format for coordination and consultation at the governmental and parliamentary levels, involving foreign ministers, experts, and others. It was created as a means to raise awareness worldwide among leaders and the public about the temporary occupations and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Furthermore, this Platform was established to address the negative impacts on human and people’s rights, especially of the local population, as well as threats to security in the Black Sea region, global food security, and the rules-based global order.

In order to raise awareness and support from the international community for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Baltic states within their internationally recognised borders, this third parliamentary conference and summit was initiated. It aims to highlight the global impact of Russia’s aggression and continue to shed light on the international crimes committed by the aggressor.

The Russian Federation violated international humanitarian law, specifically Chapter 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, which proclaims that all member states shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state or in any other manner consistent with the purpose of the United Nations.

The 60th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 68/262 on March 27, 2014, in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, affirming the territorial integrity of Ukraine. This non-binding resolution was supported by over 100 UN member states, including the Republic of Liberia, which I represent here today.

Your Excellencies, speakers, parliamentarians, ambassadors, and distinguished guests, I am pleased to report that this UN resolution further demonstrates the global commitment to maintaining peace, especially during these difficult periods of aggression by various nations.

Moreover, the resolution affirmed the UN’s pledge for Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and underscored the invalidity of the 2014 Crimea “referendum” [illegally conducted by the Russian Federation].

The forceful annexation and aggression against the Crimea region have signified and proven to the global community cross-human rights violations including forced disappearances, torture, murder, punitive, psychiatric incarceration, and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment and punishment by Russia and Russian-led authorities. Such actions are seen as blatant violations of international law.

However, the Government of Liberia has, since the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, joined our international partners in solidarity to categorically condemn the Russian aggression and illegal occupation of Crimea as an integral part of Ukraine. This commitment and solidarity have not changed to this day.

Our president recently echoed the sacred commitment at the just-ended 79th General Assembly of the United Nations held in New York, where he personally condemned Russia’s aggression on the Crimean Peninsula in the strongest terms.

War has a catastrophic effect, causing more mortality and disability than even major diseases. Today, we call on the President and Government of Russia and its allies to immediately and unconditionally discontinue the aggression on Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people and to restore normalcy, democracy, justice, the rule of law, human rights, and the inherent dignity of the people.

Thank you so much.

Слава України!