The Danube Commission at an extraordinary session in connection with military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the violation of the basic principles of the Belgrade Convention decided to stop Russia's powers in the commission.

As the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reported on its Telegram channel on Friday, the commission condemned the violation of the principles of free and safe navigation on the Danube, as well as the interests and sovereign rights of Ukraine. Russia is held liable for economic damage due to the reduction in cargo turnover in the Danube Delta and in the Black Sea due to military dangers.

The corresponding decision of the Danube Commission is the result of the joint work of specialists from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the State Maritime and River Transport Service of Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the adopted resolution provides that the powers of any representative of the Russian Federation in the Danube Commission or its deputies stop until the establishment of peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

In addition, representatives of the Russian Federation have been suspended from all meetings of the Danube Commission and its working bodies. Citizens of the Russian Federation will be dismissed from the diplomatic and administrative-technical positions of the Secretariat of the Danube Commission.

In addition, the adopted resolution provides for an appeal to the Committee for the Revision of the Belgrade Convention to seek decisions on whether the Russian Federation, as a non-Danubian state, can be a party to the Convention in the future.

"Ever since the beginning of the 90s, the Ukrainian delegation to the Danube Commission actively opposed the membership of Russia as the legal successor of the Soviet Union, which is not a Danubian state. However, this did not find understanding and support of partners. In 2021, for the first time, a representative of Ukraine, namely the Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary, Liubov Nepop, became the head of the Danube Commission. At the initiative of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the decision of the head of the Danube Commission, the 12th extraordinary session was convened, within which unprecedented decisions were made that could not be achieved since the 90s," the ministry said.