National libraries of the Baltic states call on international organisations to suspend the membership of the Russian Federation

The national Libraries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a public appeal to the library community worldwide, asking to explicitly condemn the Russian aggression in Ukraine and suspend the membership of the Russian Federation in all international library associations and organisations.

Director General of the National Library of Estonia Janne Andresoo said: „Libraries across the world stand for the dissemination of free and true information, and as memory institutions they cherish the cultural heritage. The attack against Ukraine and the intention to delete Ukrainian culture must be explicitly condemned. That has been the reason for the statement from the Baltic national libraries to suspend the membership of the Russian Federation in all professional library organisations.“

„We all share common goals and values, and we commit to continue creating an inclusive information and cultural space that is free from misinformation, lies, hatred and war, and open to all“, says the appeal which also calls to offer to Ukraine moral and financial support.

The public appeal was issued to CENL, EBLIDA, IFLA, CDNL, LIBER, NAPLE, Public Libraries 2030, SPARC Europe and ALA.

You can read the appeal HERE.