VIENNA, 25 February 2022 – At the close of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 21st Winter Meeting today, the elected leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly – the President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Committee Officers, and Secretary General – reiterated their condemnation of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine and expressed steadfast support for the Ukrainian people and their democratically elected leadership.

Today, they issued the following statement:

“The Bureau of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and its elected government, and offers its deepest condolences for the loss of life that has taken place as a result of the Russian invasion. In the face of this unjustifiable assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent Ukraine, we have seen extraordinary courage from civilians, the armed forces and national leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The government and parliament of Ukraine have shown exemplary leadership in these challenging times. Our thoughts are very much with the safety of our friends and colleagues – and all Ukrainians – directly impacted by this act of aggression.”

The OSCE PA leaders also reiterated their joint statement from Thursday in which they “condemn[ed] in the strongest terms the advancement of Russian military in the territory of Ukraine” and expressed their full support for the statements and actions taken by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the OSCE Secretary General. The leaders recalled the Russian Federation’s obligations under international law, especially the Geneva Conventions’ protections of non-combatants.