Tallinn, 28 November 2023 (MIA) – In a joint statement Tuesday, the Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said they would boycott the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), if Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also attends.

“S. Lavrov’s attendance at the OSCE Ministerial also risks legitimizing aggressor Russia as a rightful member of our community of free nations, trivializing the atrocious crimes Russia has been committing, and putting up with Russia’s blatant violation and contempt of the OSCE fundamental principles and commitments. We, the Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, will not be part of this and will not share responsibility for consequences it will create,” said the statement.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said “Russia will use this opportunity to spread its propaganda and undermine the unity of the West.”

“The fact is that while the OSCE meeting is being held in Skopje, Russia's war machine is attacking innocent Ukrainians and deporting children without blinking an eye. Estonia cannot sit at the same table with the aggressor and bear responsibility for the consequences Lavrov's attendance may bring. It goes against our fundamental principles. Lavrov's place is at a special tribunal, not the OSCE table,” said Tsahkna, whose country was supposed to assume the OSCE Chairpersonship in 2024 but due to the opposition of Russia and Belarus, Malta was instead proposed as a compromise for the 2024 Chairpersonship.

According to Tsahkna, it is crucial “to put an immediate end to the aggression on Ukraine, withdraw troops from occupied areas, compensate for the destruction, and hold criminals to account”.

“But there are no signs Russia is considering following international law or the principles of the OSCE. The OSCE was created to rebuild European security, prevent conflicts and maintain peace. With its unlawful and brutal actions, Russia has repeatedly proved that it is not a security partner for Europe. In reality, Europe currently needs defense from and against Russia,” said Tsakhna.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Ukrainian MFA also said the country’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, would not attend the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje.

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