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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kathryn Anderson

Call for Perth to suspend its twinning link with Russian city

Councillors have called for Perth to suspend its twinning link with the Russian city of Pskov.

A local representative called it "inappropriate" for Perth and Kinross Council to maintain civic ties with Russia at this time.

Last Thursday Russian forces launched an assault on Ukraine from land, air, and sea in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War II.

The move has brought global condemnation from world leaders.

Highland Perthshire independent councillor Xander McDade has put together an emergency motion calling for the suspension of Perth's twinning link with Pskov in North West Russia.

If accepted the motion will go before councillors for consideration when Perth and Kinross Council meets on Wednesday, March 9.

Cllr Xander McDade (Perthshire Advertiser)

Cllr Xander McDade said: "It is important to demonstrate to the Ukrainian citizens living in Perth and Kinross that we do not support the invasion of their homeland or Russia’s attack on a free and democratic European nation.

"For sanctions to be effective they must isolate the aggressor economically and culturally to have the maximum impact and cause the Russian Government to change course. It would therefore be inappropriate to maintain civic ties with Russia whilst they are occupying a sovereign country and threatening European security."

If he is allowed to present his motion it will call on Perth and Kinross Council to suspend the twinning of Perth City with Pskov "until such time as Russia ends its unwarranted attack and withdraws from the Ukraine".

SNP group leader councillor Grant Laing has given his support to Cllr McDade and agreed to second the motion.

The Strathtay councillor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We have got to show our support in whatever way we can for the people of Ukraine.

"I have no argument at all with the Russian people but it's sending a message to the Russian government. If you don't take a stand you end up being complicit.

"It may be a small thing but this is what we can do in Perth."

SNP Perth City Centre councillor Andrew Parrott said: "I am fully in support of suspending the twinning with Pskov. It's a place I have been to twice and the motion includes the opportunity of resurrecting the twinning in future."

Cllr Parrott has also called for the motion to request Perth and Kinross Council explores the possibility of seeking a twinning arrangement with a town or city in Ukraine.

Cllr McDade has agreed to include this and added: "The Ukrainian people need our support more than ever."

Perth has been twinned with Pskov - one of Russia's oldest cities - for over 30 years. Friendships have been formed over this time with visits to and from Pskov and there have been a number of art, drama, music, education and community projects.

Last Thursday, Glasgow City Council voted to suspend its twinning link with the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

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