Keystone-SDA
The president of the Russian Senate Valentina Matvienko, close to Vladimir Putin, participated on Monday in a meeting in Geneva. However, it is targeted by Western sanctions for its support for war in Ukraine.
(Keystone-ATS) Images have been broadcast in Russia of the President of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, welcomed with flowers when it comes down from a government plane. Ms. Matvienko participates in a conference of presidents of parliaments organized this week by the Interparliamentary Union (UIP). She attended a summit of women presidents of parliaments on Monday.
The experience of the two world wars must serve as a warning against a third world conflict, said the Russian politician in reference to the conflicts that ravage the planet.
“Ambassador of understanding”
The Russian politician, who would have a private beach in Italy, presented herself as an ambassador for understanding and called for her wishes that guarantees “the security of all nations”. The Kremlin justified his war in Ukraine in particular by the danger that kyiv’s ambitions had to join NATO.
Ms. Matvienko, 76, appears on the lists of sanctions decreed by the United States, the European Union and Switzerland. Two members of the Duma targeted by sanctions, Leonid Sluzki and Piotr Tolstoy, were also in Geneva on Monday.
Questioned in mid-July by Keystone-ATS, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) had indicated that Switzerland, as host and host, is competent to facilitate the entry of official delegates. If necessary, sanctions must be temporarily lifted to participate in international conferences or take part in a political dialogue concerning Ukraine.