Controversy envelops Russia's most influential female figure: Julia Kloeckner steps down and departs - Russia's most influential woman, Julia Klöckner, takes a step forward.
Controversial Russian Politician Attends Geneva Peace Conference, Sparking Protests
Valentina Matwijenko, the Chairwoman of Russia's upper parliamentary chamber, the Federation Council, attended a peace conference in Geneva hosted by the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) of parliamentary presidents. However, her presence at the event caused an uproar, leading to protests and walkouts by delegations from democratic countries.
Matwijenko, who is considered Russia's most powerful woman and ranks as the third highest official in the Russian government hierarchy, has been a vocal supporter of Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Her stance on the war, which she has reiterated multiple times, has placed her as a key figure symbolizing Russia’s intransigence and defiance amid the conflict.
Ukrainian officials have accused Matwijenko of bearing personal responsibility for the war's atrocities due to her public support for Russia's aggressive military policy. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry explicitly described her as a "genocidal Matvienko" responsible for crimes tied to the invasion and urged others to avoid diplomatic engagement such as handshakes with her.
Switzerland, as the host of international conferences, must issue special permits for entry in such contentious cases. Despite the international backlash, Matwijenko was present at the conference alongside other sanctioned Duma politicians, including Leonid Slutsky and Pyotr Tolstoy.
The conference, intended to promote peace, was disrupted due to the political tensions surrounding Matwijenko's attendance. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and representatives of other EU countries left the conference in protest against Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Matwijenko's involvement in the conflict and her attendance at international forums continue to be a source of controversy, embodying both the domestic power structure maintaining Russia's war course and the international backlash against Russian leadership figures close to President Vladimir Putin.
The Commission has also taken a number of steps to ensure that the European Parliament and the Council are able to reach agreement on the following: war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, specifically concerning the role of controversial figures like Valentina Matwijenko, the Chairwoman of Russia's upper parliamentary chamber, in political tensions and crimes-and-justice related to the ongoing war. Despite her continued attendance at general-news events aimed at fostering peace, such as the Geneva Peace Conference, Matwijenko's presence sparks protests and walkouts from democratic countries, highlighting the political divide and challenging the diplomatic norms of international engagement.
