Russia's presence at the Switzerland summit of female speakers faces opposition from Latvia
Latvia Protests Russia's Participation at Women Speakers' Summit
Latvia made a bold statement at the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliaments held in Geneva, Switzerland, by protesting Russia's participation. The Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, Antoņina Ņenaševa, explicitly expressed her displeasure with Russia's inclusion, underlining Latvia's solidarity with Ukraine [1][4].
In response to Russia's participation, delegations from Ukraine and several European countries, including Latvia, walked out of the World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in protest [3]. This collective action aimed to express disapproval of Russia's presence at the international event due to its role in the conflict in Ukraine.
Following these protests, Latvian officials continued to emphasize their support for Ukraine and maintain sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Russia. For example, Prime Minister Evika Silina highlighted the extension of the European Union’s sanctions against Russia as a demonstration of unwavering support for Ukraine [2].
Antonina Nenasheva, the Deputy Chairman of the Seimas of Latvia, participated in the summit. However, her actions during the summit were not publicly explained, and there is speculation that her departure from the meeting room during the summit was a form of protest or demonstration [5]. It is worth noting that Nenasheva left the meeting room without taking a group photo, but her departure did not seem to affect her role as the Deputy Chairman of the Seimas of Latvia [6].
There is no evidence that Nenasheva's departure was related to the ongoing tensions between Latvia and Russia. Moreover, there is no information available about any repercussions or consequences for Nenasheva's actions during the summit [7].
Valentina Matvienko, the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, also spoke at the same forum. Matvienko's participation in the summit was in her capacity as the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation [8].
In summary, Latvia's protest against Russia's participation at the Women Speakers' Summit was a clear signal of opposition to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The collective action by delegations, including Latvia’s, leaving the summit in protest, and Latvian officials reinforcing support for Ukraine and backing EU sanctions on Russia, underline Latvia’s consistent stance against Russia’s military actions and its efforts to uphold solidarity with Ukraine in international forums.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine prompted Latvia to protest Russia's participation at the Women Speakers' Summit, as a demonstration of their policy-and-legislation stance against the conflict.
- The politics surrounding Russia's participation at international events, like the Women Speakers' Summit, are significant general-news topics, as they often reveal countries' stances on ongoing conflicts and their willingness to oppose aggression.
