The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on Wednesday, recognising Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The resolution was adopted by 494 votes in favour, 58 against with 44 abstentions.

The European Parliament acknowledges that Russia has "deliberately targeted civilian objects" in Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. In the occupied territories, the aggressors carry out "executions without trial and investigation, carry out kidnappings, sexual violence, torture, and other atrocities," the resolution added. Mass murders in Bucha, Irpin, Izium and Lyman were also mentioned, as well as attacks on the Mariupol theater and the Kramatorsk railway station.

The authors of the project also calculated that Russia violates the principles of the UN Charter, caused a humanitarian crisis in Mariupol and destroyed 95% of the city, blocks Ukrainians' access to gas, electricity, water and the Internet, as well as to basic goods and services.

"The European Parliament underlines that the deliberate attacks and atrocities carried out by the Russian Federation against the civilian population of Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and other serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law amount to acts of terror against the Ukrainian population and constitute war crimes; expresses its unreserved outrage at and condemnation of these attacks and atrocities and the other acts that Russia has committed in pursuit of its destructive political aims in Ukraine and on the territory of other countries; in the light of the above, recognises Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and as a state which uses means of terrorism," the text of the resolution reads.

In this regard, the European Parliament calls on the European Union to further isolate Russia internationally, including when it comes to Russia's membership of international organisations and bodies such as the United Nations Security Council. MEPs also want diplomatic ties with Russia to be reduced, EU contacts with official Russian representatives to be kept to the absolute minimum and Russian state-affiliated institutions in the EU spreading propaganda around the world to be closed and banned.

In addition, the European Parliament calls for the EU and its Member States to take action to initiate a comprehensive international isolation of the Russian Federation, including with regard to Russia's membership of international organisations and bodies such as the United Nations Security Council, and to refrain from holding any formal events on the territory of the Russian Federation.

"The European Parliament calls for diplomatic relations with Russia to be reduced further and for contacts with its official representatives at all levels to be kept to the absolute minimum necessary; calls on EU Member States to close and ban Russian state-affiliated institutions, such as the Russian Centres for Science and Culture and Russian diaspora organisations and associations, which operate under the auspices and leadership of Russian diplomatic missions and promote Russian state propaganda around the world," the resolution reads.

Also, in view of the escalation of Russian attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, the European Parliament called on the EU to swiftly complete its work on a ninth sanctions package against Moscow.

After approval, the President of the European Parliament must send the resolution to the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Council, the European Commission, the governments and parliaments of the member states, the UN Secretary General, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights person, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Criminal Court, the president, government and parliament of the Russian Federation, the president, government and parliament of Ukraine.

On November 21, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly recognised the Russian Federation and its regime as a terrorist state.

As previously reported, on October 13, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe unanimously adopted a resolution that calls the Russian Federation a terrorist regime. PACE became the first international organisation to recognise Russia as a terrorist state.

Some parliaments of European countries, including the Senate of Poland and the Lower House of the Czech Parliament, passed a decision to designate Russia a terrorist regime.