In order to raise awareness and support of the international community for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, the Third Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform will take place this Thursday, on 24 October, in Riga. It aims to highlight the global impact of Russia’s aggression and continue to shed light at the international level on the crimes committed by the aggressor.

The hosting of the International Crimea Platform Parliamentary Summit in Riga is part of Latvia’s comprehensive support to Ukraine and a contribution to strengthening the rules-based international order. The Summit is organised by the Saeima in close cooperation with the Verkhovna Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine, and it will be attended by delegations from around 50 countries of the world.

The Summit will be opened by Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima, and Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, is set to address the participants remotely. Opening speeches will also be given by Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, and First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Nariman Dzhelyal.

Parliamentary delegations from Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Montenegro, Moldova, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Turkey, and the United Kingdom have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Summit. Most of the parliaments will be represented at the speaker level.

The Summit is also to be attended by representatives from international organisations, such as the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Summit will include several side events for the support of Ukraine, including an expert discussion on the recognition of the Crimean Tatar genocide and the restoration of their rights within the Ukrainian state, as well as on Russia’s accountability and the impact of the war on European security. It will also feature a screening of the documentary “The True History of Crimea”. Additional information can be found on the Summit’s website: www.crimea-platform-riga.lv

The International Crimea Platform was established in 2021 as a format for coordination and consultation at the level of states and governments, parliaments, foreign ministers, and experts. It was created to raise awareness among world leaders and the wider public of the temporary occupation and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, its negative impact on the human rights of local populations, security in the Black Sea region, global food security, and the rules‑based global order. Previously, parliamentary summits of the Crimea Platform have taken place in Zagreb and Prague.

Saeima Press Service