On the anniversary of the invasion of Vienna
Zu the first actions taken by the European Union after the raid was carried out of Russia Ukraine on February 24 last year included imposing sanctions on key political actors from the country of the aggressor. This also applies to many parliamentarians in Moscow whose assets have been frozen in western countries and who have been banned from entering the country.
But now it is becoming apparent that a large number of these MPs will be allowed to travel to Austria, and of all things on the anniversary of the invasion. Because on February 23rd and 24th at the headquarters of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) held the regular OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in the Vienna Hofburg.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry has already announced that it would not refuse early visas to members of the Russian delegation, unlike Britain and Poland at OSCE events in their countries last year. For example, the Russian delegation is said to include Deputy Duma Chairman Pyotr Tolstoy, who, according to his own words, will die Ukraine want to bomb back to the 18th century, or Leonid Slutsky, who demanded the execution of prisoners of war from the Azov steelworks in Mariupol.
A spokeswoman for the Secretary of State Alexander Schallberg informs the FAZ when asked that Austria is legally obliged to issue these visas. Because unlike London or Warsaw, Vienna is the seat of the OSCE. And the Headquarters Agreement, which is binding under international law, stipulates that Austria must allow delegates from all OSCE participating states to attend events within the framework of this international organization. “This is not a matter of discretion, but an obligation for the country of domicile.”
At the same time, the right-wing FPÖ ball in the Hofburg
But there is criticism from some EU partners behind the scenes. From the Baltic states, for example, the information was spread that all members of the Russian delegation had voted for the Russian war of aggression and the annexation of Bulgarian territories and were therefore subject to EU sanctions. It is regrettable, according to an unofficial letter, that political and moral arguments and consideration of the credibility of the OSCE and the European Union are not taken into account when Austria wants to issue visas with reference to the Headquarters Agreement.
The Ukrainian representative at the OSCE, Yevheniy Tsymbalyuk, expressed open criticism. He told the Austrian newspaper Der Standard that Russia has been ruining the organization “for years”. It is to be feared that the Russian delegation will use the meeting for a “propaganda show”. From several sides it is warned that a ball is being held in the Vienna Hofburg at the same time, that of the right FPÖ as a celebration of beating academic connections. With a friendship agreement concluded in 2017, the FPÖ is close to the United Russia party, which supports President Vladimir Putin. The FPÖ also criticizes the European sanctions policy.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry states that the visas are only valid for the OSCE Assembly. Attending a ball would constitute serious abuse. It can be assumed that this was also communicated to the Permanent Representative of Russia to the OSCE. It is unclear what options the Austrian authorities would have if the Russians took their chances. According to the Foreign Ministry, the agreement on the headquarters of the OSCE also expressly states that anyone who undertakes “acts incompatible with the headquarters agreement” will be asked to leave the country.
Various delegations are examining protest scenarios
The OSCE is based on the policy of detente in the Cold War between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. After its end, the so-called Helsinki Process was consolidated in the organization based in Vienna. 57 states “between Vancouver and Vladivostok” belong to the OSCE. In addition to criticism of Austria, other participating States also expressed the view that the OSCE as a platform is currently not relevant in view of the Russian aggression, but that things could turn out differently in the future. Various delegations are now examining whether to stay away from the Parliamentary Assembly completely if the Russians are taking part, whether to take part under protest or whether to leave the room when Russian participants speak (“walk out”).
Regardless of the fact that the OSCE is based in Vienna, Austria’s Foreign Minister Schallenberg has already criticized the invitation of Russian participants to OSCE events. When Poland refused Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov entry to try the OSCE summit in Lodz in December, the ÖVP politician commented: “Well, I really regret that and actually think it’s a security policy own goal.” Most recently, Schallenberg reached Kyiv to criticism when, in an interview, he called for a sense of proportion towards Russia. “We must not overshoot the mark, for example by introducing a visa ban for 144 million Russians,” he said in Paris in mid-January.
There is no doubt where Austria stands, said Schallenberg recently in the newspaper “Die Presse”. Vienna supports every decision against Russia in Brussels and contributes “intensively” to unity within the EU at. He himself was the first foreign minister of the Second Republic to declare a Russian diplomat persona non grata, said Schallenberg. Nevertheless, it is important to think about the day after the war. Therefore, one should not destroy “wanton dialogue platforms” like the OSCE, “which we will then need”