McAllister: Putin and his associates are war criminals and will one day respond for this

“Foreign intervention is a major challenge for the Western Balkans, but also for European Union (EU) member states, and in recent years Russia’s intervention has intensified so much that the Kremlin wants to destabilize European countries,” said David McAllister, MEP and president of the EU Committee on Foreign Affairs, adding that for this reason the European Parliament has set up a special committee.

“What we need to do is strengthen the resistance, expose the false news, the propaganda, the political forces that spread lies. First we have to take off our masks and detect foreign interference,” McAllister said.

He assessed that communication with the media should be strengthened and improved, that citizens should be informed, to know what lies they are spreading.

According to medias in Podgorica, McAllister assessed that independent media are suitable for building bridges with citizens.

“The Western Balkans has been the target of malicious influence, not only from Russia, but also from others who do it more subtly. We are ready and will not allow Kremlin propaganda to affect our democratic societies,” he said.

Asked if the ban on Russia Today and Sputnik media violated the principle of media independence, McAllister said he strongly defended media independence, “but with all due respect, Sputnik is disgusting.”

“I know what they are doing, they are spreading propaganda, I applaud the fact that these horrible things are banned in some EU countries. I’m proud that I never gave an interview to Sputnik or Russia Today. “Some colleagues who gave interviews should be ashamed,” McAllister said.

Commenting on how the war in Ukraine affects Montenegro, McAllister said the Russian war against Ukraine is unjustified and barbaric.

“Putin and his associates are war criminals and will one day be held accountable,” McAllister said.

He said he hoped the EU would adopt a six-point package and called on all member states to continue with instruments that would increase pressure on the Kremlin and Putin.

McAllister thanked Montenegro for harmonizing sanctions against Russia with EU policy.

On Thursday (May 26, 2022) he was in Montenegro with a group of MPs, where he met with representatives of the Government, political parties, non-governmental organizations, as well as with President Milo Djukanovic.

Earlier, McAllister, EU Ambassador to Montenegro Oana Kristina Popa and European Affairs Minister Jovana Marovic inaugurated the European House in Podgorica.

The European House, as announced, will be a place of gathering, dialogue, the birth of new ideas and creativity in line with European values./The Geopost