On 1 February, President Edgars Rinkēvičs and the First Lady of Ukraine Mrs Olena Zelenska together opened the international conference "Russia's War on Children". The conference discussed holding Russia accountable for its illegal and forced deportations of children from the temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine. It also explored mechanisms for facilitating the return of the Ukrainian children deported by Russia.
In the opening address, the President of Latvia expressed full Latvia’s support for Ukraine in their efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children who have been abducted by Russia. “We are here to help Ukraine to end Russia’s aggression against Ukraine’s children. To halt the unlawful deportations and forcible transfers of Ukrainian children. To search for ways how to stop these atrocities and bring the children back. These are not just words. These are firm obligations that Latvia together with more than 60 countries have committed under the “International Coalition of Countries for the Return of Ukrainian Children,” said E. Rinkēvičs.
The President of Latvia stated that Russia's criminal actions are a violation of international humanitarian law and constitute a war crime. “By forcibly removing children from their homes and families, Russia violates their fundamental rights to security, family life, and a sense of belonging. It is actively erasing their Ukrainian identity, inflicting unbelievable emotional and psychological trauma. What make it even worse, Russia proudly exhibits its actions on a global stage. This violates international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime,” said E. Rinkēvičs. At the same time, the President of Latvia stressed that the international community needs to make every effort to condemn Russia’s illegal acts against children and demand accountability from Russia and from its accomplice Belarus.
