Geneva Witnesses the Presence of a Trusted Associate of Putin Despite Imposed Sanctions
In the heart of Geneva, Switzerland, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference took place, attracting parliamentary leaders from around the world. Amidst this global gathering, one figure caused a stir - Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of Russia's Federation Council and a close ally of Vladimir Putin.
Matviyenko, a 76-year-old Russian politician, attended the multi-day assembly despite being under Western sanctions. Her presence sparked debate about the implications of engaging sanctioned Russian officials on international platforms.
The conference was held in the context of global conflicts, and Matviyenko took the opportunity to defend Russia's actions in Ukraine. She framed the 2022 full-scale invasion as a "forced intervention" to protect civilians in Donbas from Ukrainian shelling and violence.
However, her speech caused significant controversy and was met with sharp criticism and walkouts by European lawmakers. Ukrainian officials denounced her presence as "appeasement of the aggressor" and "hypocrisy," highlighting her direct involvement in Russia’s aggressive policies, including signing off on the 2014 and 2022 military operations in Ukraine.
Matviyenko, a staunch supporter of the invasion, reaffirmed Kremlin narratives by accusing Ukraine of killing civilians in Donbas and calling Western countries out for “anti-Russian rhetoric” and waging an “information war.” She urged the lifting of Western sanctions, arguing that sanctions are “hindering peace,” and called for the international community to “stand up for peace” while inviting foreign lawmakers to witness the situation in Donbas firsthand via the “Alley of Angels” memorial.
The Russian politician's stance echoes Russian official propaganda, denies responsibility for initiating the conflict, seeks to delegitimize Western narratives, pushes for sanction relief, and portrays Russia’s military actions as defensive efforts aimed at civilian protection.
Despite the controversy, Matviyenko was greeted with flowers upon her arrival in Switzerland by government aircraft, marking her as Russia's most powerful woman at the forum. She also warned against a third world war in light of global conflicts.
The dpa news agency covered the event extensively, reporting on the heated debates and the polarising presence of Matviyenko. As the conference continues, the international community grapples with the implications of engaging with sanctioned Russian officials, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains a contentious issue on the global stage.
[1] https://www.ipu.org/ [2] https://www.reuters.com/ [3] https://www.bbc.com/ [4] https://www.nytimes.com/ [5] https://www.theguardian.com/
The German Bundestag President, Julia Klöckner, is registered for the IPU conference but plans to arrive on Tuesday. It remains to be seen if her attendance will add another layer of complexity to the already tense atmosphere surrounding the conference.
Valentina Matviyenko's attendance at the IPU conference, where she defended Russia's actions in Ukraine, sparked debate about engaging sanctioned Russian officials on international platforms, especially considering her direct involvement in the conflict.
The ongoing presence of Matviyenko at such global assemblies raises questions about the politics of war-and-conflicts, general-news reporting, and international diplomacy, as her speech caused controversy and criticism from European lawmakers.
