Kontratyuk called to boycott the participation of Matviyenko at the conference

• Kontratyuk called to boycott events with the participation of Matviyenko.
• She emphasized that Matviyenko should remain before the court.
• The participation of the Russian delegation caused outrage among Ukrainian politicians.

This is reported by Interfax Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda.

Olena Kontratyuk, the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, called on participants of the World Conference of Parliamentarians in Geneva to boycott public events with the participation of Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Federation Council of Russia.

She stated that any joint photograph or handshake with Matviyenko signifies support for the aggressor and may be used by Russian propaganda to justify the crimes of the Russian Federation.

Kontratyuk stressed that the Russian delegation, which consists of individuals who are under sanctions, should not have a place at this conference. She considers it important to demonstrate a demarche from all democratic countries against the presence of Russia at the summit of speakers.

In addition, the speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhyy, also expressed criticism regarding Matviyenko's participation in this conference. He noted that her place is "in court, not at international conferences," calling her participation in Geneva shameful.

Tyhyy called on the participants of the conference not to shake Matviyenko's hand, "which is covered in Ukrainian blood." He emphasized the necessity to continue working on the extradition of Matviyenko to The Hague, where the International Criminal Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine has not yet begun its work.

Matviyenko arrived in Geneva on July 28 as part of the Russian delegation to participate in the Sixth World Conference of Parliamentarians and other events of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. All participants of the Russian delegation are under EU sanctions, which were also imposed by Switzerland.

Tags: Ukraine/Russia/Politics