PACE Calls on EU to Recognize Russia as Terrorist Regime

Facts

• The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), an international organization of European lawmakers separate from the EU, voted on Thursday almost unanimously in favor of a resolution calling on European countries to classify Russia as a terrorist regime.¹
• 99 out of 100 members, who are drawn from 46 European parliaments, voted in support of the resolution, with just one Turkish MP, a member of the Republican People’s Party, abstaining.²
• The resolution demanded Russia “completely and unconditionally withdraw its occupying forces' from Ukraine and chastised Moscow for what it called “indiscriminate attacks.' It also accused Russia of advancing 'its terrorist policy to suppress the will of Ukrainians to resist and defend their country and provoke maximum harm to civilians.”¹
• The resolution further called for the creation of a special international tribunal on aggression against Ukraine.³
• In June, Russia announced its withdrawal from PACE, with a spokesman from the State Duma Committee on International Affairs saying, 'Russophobic decisions and resolutions by PACE have absolutely no significance for Russia, and the platform no longer has anything constructive to offer.'⁴

Sources: ¹CNN, ²Republic World, ³Meduza and ⁴TASS.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Interfax.ru. An overwhelming number of countries have Ukraine’s back, and more might soon join in opposing Russia’s aggression. This vote is confirmation that Russia's actions are terrorism and, since no one should negotiate with terrorists, this conflict can only end by beating Russia militarily.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by POLITICO. The West must be careful with how it demonizes the Kremlin. Designating Russia a terrorist regime is a dangerous move that corners Putin — whose threats of nuclear weapons must be taken seriously — and will only backfire by damaging future peace efforts. Once this route is taken, there's no going back, and this isn't the right time or the right tool.