The Flemish Parliament recognises Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism”

On 21 December 2022, the Flemish Parliament approved a resolution recognising Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism”. The Flemish Parliament is once again sending a strong signal to Russia, which started an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. “Our resolution makes it clear that Russia’s misdeeds put it outside the rules of the international community,” says initiator Karl Vanlouwe.

Targeted attacks on civilian targets

In its resolution, the Flemish Parliament refers to the many Russian attacks on civilian targets. For example, the Russian aggressor’s preferred targets are residential areas, schools, hospitals, water and electricity networks and other civilian infrastructure. “That is a blatant violation of international law, which states that there must always be a distinction between civilian and military targets. I only have one word for this: terrorism,” Karl Vanlouwe explains.

Breaking Ukrainian morale

It is clear that Russian warfare blatantly violates all the rules of international law. Certain techniques, such as the siege of Mariupol that led to the destruction of 95% of the city, are reminiscent of the darkest episodes in European history. Karl Vanlouwe: “The Nazis also attempted to crush the soul of the British people with mass bombings during the Second World War. The Russian Soviet communists tried to repress any kind of resistance through terror.”

Russia does not seem to have forgotten those old war techniques. “By attacking civilian targets indiscriminately, Russia hopes to break the morale of the Ukrainians,” says Vanlouwe, “but they will fail. The Ukrainians are brave and determined: they will win this fight for freedom.”

Need for an EU list of “sponsors of terrorism”

This resolution aims to give the people of Ukraine a hearty boost in their difficult struggle. In addition, the Flemish Parliament is also calling for the European Union (EU) to take concrete action by developing a legal framework for the designation of “sponsors of terrorism”. Parliament’s view is that such a list must also include sanctions and other restrictive measures.

Previous resolutions

This is not the first time the Flemish Parliament has expressed its opinion on the war in Ukraine through a resolution. Earlier this year, it condemned the illegal annexation of several occupied territories and also called for an investigation into war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.