Lawmakers from the pro-Russia, far-right Freedom Party (FPO) walked out of the lower house of Austria’s parliament on Thursday 30 March during a speech by Volodymyr Zelensky.

The president of Ukraine addressed the chamber via video link, thanking Austria for its humanitarian aid and help with projects such as clearing land mines.

The FPO, however, had warned days before that it would hold some form of protest against Zelensky’s speech, claiming that it violated Austria’s neutrality.

Lawmakers who walked out left small placards on their desks featuring the party logo and either the words “space for neutrality” or “space for peace”.

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