Delegations from several European Union member states, including a German parliamentary delegation led by Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, walked out during a speech delivered by the President of the Russian Federation Council at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva. The German Bundestag confirmed the action in a statement released on Wednesday.
The departure was prompted by concerns over Russia’s actions, specifically its ongoing military actions in Ukraine. President Klöckner explained that the move was a response to Russia’s disregard for international law through its military intervention. She emphasized the targeting of civilian infrastructure within Ukraine, describing it as an act of terror against the Ukrainian population.
The parliamentary delegations chose to abstain from lending attention to what they characterized as cynical attempts by the Russian delegation to distort historical narratives and to misrepresent the nature of the conflict. The statement underscored the principle that the law of the stronger should not prevail and reiterated the commitment of the member states to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.
