On 23 January 2014 the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania adopted the statement on the events in Ukraine (voting results: 88 votes in favour and 3 abstentions).
Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,
being deeply shocked by the recent news from Ukraine about continuing violent clashes that have already claimed human lives;
extending its sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims;
being deeply moved by the Ukrainian people's determination and resilliance in seeking to firmly link their country's future to the European Union, and calling on the Ukrainian authorities to finally hear the voice of the people of their own country,
strongly condemns the use of violence and force, and urges to refrain from further acts of violence;
emphasizes that provocative actions by some individuals and their groups aimed at turning peaceful demonstrations into riots may not be regarded as a pretext for the use of force and violence against peaceful protesters;
emphasizes the responsibility of the Ukrainian authorities for a major crisis in the country and polarization of society;
is of the opinion that the laws passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 16 January 2014 do not comply with Ukraines international commitments ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms, inadmissibly restrict freedom of speech and peaceful assembly as well as the activity of non-governmental organisations and should thus be urgently repealed;
addresses Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine urging them to realise their exclusive political responsibility at this particularly difficult period of time for Ukraine and to take responsible actions to contain the deepening political crisis in the country;
invites Ukrainian society, opposition forces and authorities to seek, by all means possible, a peaceful political dialogue and resort to this only method to deal with the political crisis in the country;
calls on the Parliaments of the Member States of the European Union to put a special focus on the assessment of the complicated situation in Ukraine and to promote active actions by their governments in response to the events in this strategically important country for the entire European Union;
addresses the institutions of the European Union and asks them to consider all possible measures, including economic sanctions, in response to the events in Ukraine and urges to search, together with the Member States of the European Union and the international community, solutions to contain the deepening political crisis in the country and to respond to the aspirations of Ukrainian society regarding the integration in the European Union.
SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS LORETA GRAUŽINIENĖ
Public Relations Unit
