Geneva: Igor Grosu and European parliamentary leaders walked out during Kremlin representative’s speech
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu, along with several Speakers from various European Union member states, made a symbolic exit from the hall during a speech by Valentina Matvienko, the Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. This action was intended as a protest against the military aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine and the propaganda rhetoric presented by the Russian delegation.
"We stand in solidarity with Ukraine! Along with other Speakers, we left the hall of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament during the speech of the President of the Russian Federation," stated Igor Grosu.
The event is taking place in Geneva from July 29 to 31 and is organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in collaboration with the UN. During a plenary session on Tuesday morning, Valentina Matvienko, who is under international sanctions for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, took the floor. This prompted the exit of European delegations, including that of the Republic of Moldova.
A statement from the German Bundestag noted that the President of the Legislative Forum in Germany, Julia Klöckner, also participated in this symbolic protest: "With its barbaric and aggressive war, Russia is trampling on international law. Civilian infrastructure is being massively and intentionally bombed—this is terrorism against the Ukrainian population," reports DW.
According to Swiss authorities, members of the Russian delegation were allowed to enter the country based on special exemptions, despite some being on the sanctions lists of the European Union and Switzerland.
