Russian officials complain about ‘ludicrous’ parliamentary inquiries into Baltic states’ independence

The Russian Attorney General’s Office has admitted that the investigation into the constitutionality of the 1991 recognition of the Baltic states’ independence will not have any legal ramifications.

Commenting on the parliamentary inquiry demanding the investigation, the agency's spokesperson, Marina Gridnyova, said the Attorney General’s Office is legally obliged to review any and all such queries. “Some of them are entirely ludicrous,” she complained.

One June 30, a member of the Duma demanded an investigation into the Soviet Union's recognition of the Baltic states’ independence. Legally, the State Council of the USSR, which made the decision, might have been an unconstitutional state body. 

In comments to the press, sources in the Russian government have lamented that the political fallout of such a probe negates any possible legal benefits of reviewing the 1991 recognition decision. Addressing the issue today, Russia's Foreign Minister has reminded that Russia and the Baltic states have mutual diplomatic relations and are bound by a series of international treaties.

“It’s clear in this case that the whole issue will not have any legal benefits whatsoever,” a representative of the Attorney General's Office said.