The N-VA is calling on parties to withdraw from the interparliamentary union with Russia

The N-VA MPs who are members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) with the Russian Parliament have decided they no longer want to be members. “In view of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, we believe that we can no longer maintain friendly relations with the Russian parliament that approved this war,” the N-VA MPs state.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the world organisation of national parliaments that aims to contribute to world peace and security through political dialogue and parliamentary diplomacy. There are friendship groups with numerous foreign parliaments, including that of Russia. In view of the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, N-VA-MPs Allessia Claes, Freya Perdaens, Andries Gryffroy, Karolien Grosemans and Darya Safai no longer consider it appropriate to maintain friendly ties with the Russian parliament.

Don’t remain complacent

“Since we, as democratically elected MPs, cannot remain complacent in the face of the flagrant violations of international law and international human rights, we are therefore forced to withdraw as members of the Belgium-Russia section of the IPU,” says initiator and Flemish MEP Allessia Claes.

Immediate suspension

“We therefore propose to the chairman of the interparliamentary friendship group to immediately suspend work with Russia and continue this until the conditions for an honest dialogue are once again fulfilled,” adds Flemish MP Andries Gryffroy.

Clear signal

“We hope that other MPs of other parties will follow our example and that we can send a clear signal to the Russian parliament and Putin that way,” MP Darya Safai concludes.