Lithuania Becomes First Country In The World To Declare Russia A ‘Terrorist State’

Lithuania's parliament has voted to label Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as genocide and has described Russia as a terrorist state.

The Lithuanian Seimas revealed on social media they had voted unanimously on the motion.

"The Russian Federation, whose military forces deliberately and systematically target civilian targets, is a state that supports and perpetrates terrorism."

The Lithuanian motion also described what it believes to be Russia's intentions in Ukraine and why they are perpetrators of genocide.

"The intent is to wholly or partially destroy the Ukrainian nation and break its spirit by killing entire families, including children, abducting and raping people, and mocking them and the bodies of the murdered," the motion reads.

The European Union nation stressed that Russia must be held accountable by the international community by establishing a special tribunal to investigate Russia's crimes in Ukraine.

The resolution had been proposed by a number of Lithuanian parliamentarians, including Deputy Speaker Paulius Saudargas.

"The genocide began even then, and Putin's Russia is simply the reincarnation of Stalinist Russia - the Soviet Union."

Their move received praise from the Stratcom Centre, Ukraine's body for strategic communications and information security.

Stratcom said Lithuania's bold move makes the it the first country to label Russia as a terror state.

In the months following Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, the European Union member state has taken steps to distance itself from Russia.