French Parliament recognizes Wagner PMC as a terrorist organization

The French National Assembly unanimously supported the resolution, which called on the country's government and the EU to add Wagner PMC to the list of terrorist organizations. This is announced on the website of the French Parliament. The adopted document is not binding but demonstrates the unity that the French political forces demonstrate in this matter.

"Wherever they operate, Wagner militants spread instability and violence. They kill and torture. They stab and loot.

They intimidate and manipulate with complete impunity," said Benjamin Haddad, the ruling party's lawmaker.

National Assembly of France. Photo credits: UA Embassy in France

He also added that Wagner PMC mercenaries commit illegal actions not only in Ukraine but also, for example, in Mali. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna also supported the resolution.

"Murder, torture, rape: the abuses of Wagner's group cannot go unanswered," she wrote on Twitter.

Assassinats, torture, viols : les exactions du groupe Wagner ne peuvent rester sans reponse.
Nous travaillons en ce sens, avec nos partenaires ?? et avec le soutien de l'@AssembleeNat qui a adopte a l'unaninimite la proposition de resolution deposee par @benjaminhaddad. pic.twitter.com/IHS8TqmLyx -- Catherine Colonna (@MinColonna) May 9, 2023

The EU list of terrorist organizations includes, for example, Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. Earlier, Lithuania and Estonia voted to place PMC Wagner on this list.

Back in November, all factions of the European Parliament called for the recognition of the Wagner PMC as a terrorist organization. Also, in late January, the lower house of the Parliament of Canada unanimously supported a resolution to send a proposal to the government to officially recognize Wagner PMC as a terrorist organization. In late January, the State Department and the US Treasury Department declared the Russian Wagner PMC a transnational criminal organization, which assumes the introduction of additional sanctions.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recognized the Wagner PMC as an international criminal organization.

Ukrainian prosecutors and their American counterparts are exploring the possibility of seizing the assets of Wagner PMC to deprive the organization of resources for participating in hostilities in Ukraine.