Austria urged not to let Russian deputies to the OSCE meeting in Vienna

Representatives of 20 OSCE member countries sent a letter with such a demand to the Austrian government, AP reports. Vienna insists

Representatives of delegations from 20 countries that are members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) appealed to the Austrian authorities with a demand not to allow Russian deputies who fell under Western sanctions to a meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) in Vienna, Associated Press (AP) reports . ).

The Russian delegation to the OSCE PA includes five members of the Federation Council and ten deputies of the State Duma. It is headed by the Vice-Speaker of the Duma Pyotr Tolstoy. The next meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly will take place on February 23-24. Russia announced its participation in it.

The Agency has reviewed the letter sent by delegates from France, Canada, Great Britain, Poland, Ukraine and other countries to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. It says that parliamentarians are "an integral part" of the system of power and are "involved" in Russia's actions in Ukraine. “They have no place in an institution designed to promote sincere dialogue and opposition to war,” the authors of the letter say.

The Senator announced Russia's participation in the winter session of the OSCE PA Politics

The American delegates did not sign the document. At the same time, US Permanent Representative to the OSCE Michael Carpenter expressed the opinion that Russian parliamentarians "do not deserve" the opportunity to visit Western countries. At the same time, he pointed out that the Austrian authorities should decide on the issue of visas.

Austria, as a host country, is obliged to issue visas to representatives of the OSCE participating countries, the country's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said on February 5. He also stated the importance of maintaining channels of communication with Moscow.

Austria declared "perpetual" neutrality after World War II. It is not part of NATO, but is a member of the European Union. Vienna is home to the headquarters of the OSCE, UN structures, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries .

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Austria condemned Russia's military operation in Ukraine and, together with other EU countries, imposed sanctions against Moscow. At the same time, Vienna only provides humanitarian aid to Kiev, not supplying weapons, and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer remains the only Western leader who held a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the start of the military operation, AP notes. He visited Moscow in April 2022.