Vilnius (The Times Groupe)- Lithuania’s parliament voted unanimously on Tuesday to recognize Russia’s war against Ukraine as “genocide,” according to the Baltic nation’s public broadcaster.
“Russian troops and mercenaries committed mass war crimes on Ukrainian territory, notably in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Borodyanka, and Hostomel,” Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reported the resolution as saying.
The Lithuanian parliament “recognizes the full-scale war waged against Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation and its political and military leaders … as genocide against the Ukrainian people,” the resolution states.
The resolution calls for all perpetrators to be held accountable and urges the international community to establish a special international criminal tribunal to investigate crimes committed by Russia.
The resolution said that the Russian Federation, whose military forces deliberately and systematically target civilian targets, supports and perpetrates terrorism.
Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Lithuania shares 275 kilometers (171 miles) of border with Russia.
According to UN estimates, 3,381 civilians have been killed and 3,680 injured in the ongoing Ukraine war since it began on Feb. 24. The true death toll is believed to be much higher.
UNHCR estimates that more than 5.91 million people have fled to other countries, with 7.7 million internally displaced.