Estonian MP urges PACE to create salvage plan for children taken from Ukraine to Russia

TALLINN – Kadri Tali, the head of the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), on Wednesday called on the assembly to set out a concrete action plan for the return of the children taken from Ukraine to Russia and missing children. 

Tali stressed that Russia's war against Ukraine has led to widespread kidnapping and forced displacement, especially of children.

"According to some estimates, more than 700,000 Ukrainian children have been taken to Russia for 'safety.' This is a targeted action aimed at stealing the future and identity of a nation," she said.

Tali drew parallels to Estonian history, referenced her family's experiences, and emphasized that what is happening in Ukraine is genocide.

"If children had disappeared from Estonia at the same proportion, the entire nation would have been wiped off the map," she stated.

According to Tali, this is an urgent crisis where every delay costs lives and tears families apart. She said that when we see a child in distress in everyday life, immediate action is expected from us.

"So why are we waiting now? If it were your child, would you hesitate?" the MP asked.

In conclusion of her speech, she urged the international community to take swift and decisive action.

The separation of children from their homeland and their parents is not only a crime, but it also has irreversible consequences due to Russification, Tali said.

Member of the Estonian delegation Eerik-Niiles Kross, who is the PACE rapporteur on Russia's democratic forces, discussed the frameworks for future cooperation between the Council of Europe and Russian opposition politicians in meetings with Vladimir Kara-Murza. Kross also initiated a resolution aimed at structuring the arrangement of the Council of Europe's communication with the democratic forces of Russia. In addition, Kross was appointed rapporteur on the legal consequences of Russia's war of aggression.

The assembly also addressed the fight against propaganda campaigns and disinformation. The Estonian delegation supports the corresponding PACE resolutions and will work with the Ukrainian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Scandinavian delegations to draw even more attention to the subject.

The head of the Estonian delegation to PACE, Kadri Tali, and delegation members Eerik-Niiles Kross and Aleksei Jevgrafov participated in the work of the PACE autumn session in Strasbourg from Monday to Thursday.