Julie Zahra Urges Malta To Expel Russian Mission After Four-Year-Old Ukrainian Girl Killed By Missiles
Nationalist MP Julie Zahra has urged Malta to immediately expel the Russian mission as a reaction to the killing of a four-year-old Ukrainian girl by a Russian missile attack.
Zahra shared a photo of a bloodstained pink pushchair lying on its side in the city of Vinnytsia moments after its occupant – four-year-old Liza Dmitrieva – was killed by a Russian missile strike.
“This is sickening,” she said. “People continue to die for nothing, now it’s the turn of a four-year old child, the same age of my daughter.”
“This is the result of what Robert Abela deems as a conflict. This is a war.”
“Malta has to react. As a sign of political commitment it’s time to take diplomatic action against the Russian mission in Malta and expel them without any further delay.”
“We are all obliged to take all the necessary measures to stop the mad despot called Putin once and for all.”
Asked by Lovin Malta whether she is concerned that there may be consequences if Malta cuts off all channels of communication with Russia, Zahra said that the whole world is concerned about the situation but that international relations are all about solidarity and reciprocal interests.
“Can we keep ignoring? Russia seems to fail to understand that this will lead nowhere. And Malta needs to send a signal too.”
Liza, who had Down’s Syndrome, was one of three young children killed yesterday when Russian missiles hit the centre of Vinnytsia. Shortly before the attack, her mother Irina had posted a video online showing a smiling Liza pushing her chair as they spoke about her trip to a speech therapist.
Russia’s ambassador to Malta is Andrei Lopukhov, who has occupied the role since October 2021.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg has previously played down calls to expel Russian diplomats due to the small size of Malta’s diplomatic presence in Russia. This means there is a real risk that Malta could end up without any diplomatic presence in Russia at all if Russia responds to the expulsion of diplomats in kind.
Cover photo: Left: PN MP Julie Zahra, Right: Russia’s ambassador to Malta Andrei Lopukhov, Inset: Liza Dmitrieva (Photo: Irina Dmitrieva)
Should Malta expel its Russian diplomats?
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