The IOC criticizes Ukraine for its decision not to allow Ukrainians to compete with Russian athletes

On Saturday, April 1, Russia begins its one-month presidency of the Security Council – just as it did in February 2022, when it started the war.

Neither the tens of thousands of documented war crimes committed by Russian forces in the war against Ukraine, nor the International Criminal Court’s warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin caused the suspension of Russia’s membership in the UN Security Council or at least its presidency.

However, a legal procedure that could remove Russia from the presidency of the Security Council exists, experts say. But the participating countries are currently not ready to apply it, experts in international law say in the program “Time” of the Ukrainian service of the Voice of America.

Representatives of Ukraine, as well as a number of UN member countries, who were outraged by this fact the day before, called the Russian chairmanship of the Security Council “absurd and an anomaly”. Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Serhiy Kyslytsia called the fact of Russia’s chairmanship of the UN Security Council an “unprecedented disgrace in the entire history of the UN”. according to him, “it will become another vivid evidence of the deep crisis in which the Security Council is”.

Criticism of Russia’s actions has been expressed more than once by US representatives at the UN. But they were more cautious about Russia’s exclusion from the Security Council.

“Unfortunately, Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, and there is no international legal way to change this reality,” the US Permanent Mission to the United Nations commented on the situation. reported Voice of America.

All six permanent missions that received requests from Voice of America also declined to comment on the matter on camera.

The Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations only said that they hope that Russia will behave professionally so that the Security Council can continue its work to ensure peace in the world.

Suspension: There is a procedure

Instead, representatives of the academic community, who were contacted by the Voice of America Ukrainian service, say that there is a way out and cite possible solutions to the situation.

Thomas Grant, doctor of legal sciences, professor of Cambridge University is convinced: the issue of Russia’s presidency is fundamental for the world community. After all, this country has persistently violated the UN Charter since 2014.

Grant is convinced that there is actually a procedure that can exclude Russia from Security Council meetings – a procedural provision that allows the ban on the presence of a certain representative.

“This authorization procedure has not been used in the past to actually remove a representative from participation. But it exists and it is available, says Professor Grant. – It works simply. Any member of the Council may object to the presence of a representative of a country at the meeting. The Council must definitely consider this issue.”

According to Grant, nine votes are needed for a positive decision. Next, the Council votes for a procedural decision and the right of veto does not apply to it.

However, this mechanism has never been used. Grant explains this by the reluctance of countries to take such a decisive step against one of the permanent members of the Security Council, so as not to create a precedent that can be used against them in the future.

Other scientists joined the discussion about Russia’s membership in the Security Council and its chairmanship. Professor of Yale University Jeffrey Sonnenfeld has already written two articles on this topic for Time magazine.

“We conducted a lot of research on Russian companies, as well as on the collapse of the Russian economy. And we were the first to declare almost a year ago that Russia has lost on the economic front and is no longer an economic superpower. So it’s very effective. We have now taken up the diplomatic front when we realized that Russia will preside over the Security Council for the second time on April 1. This day in many countries of the world is the Day of Humor. And it seems like a sad and tragic joke that the aggressor country, which should have recused itself, will chair the Security Council,” says Sonnenfeld.

According to him, the world community does not even know that Russia received membership in the UN and the place of a permanent member of the Security Council precisely as the heir of the Soviet Union. And procedurally, this decision was not separately adopted by the General Assembly.

“The biggest diplomatic fraud of the 20th century” – Kuleba

Representatives of Ukraine have repeatedly spoken about this. Thus, the presence of Russia in the UN Security Council is a consequence of the greatest diplomatic fraud of the 20th century, – said the other day, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kulebaspeaking at a virtual discussion of the Chatham House think tank in London.

“There was not a minute of discussion about it [процедура отримання Росією членства в ООН – ред.], it was a violation of the charter of the United Nations, – says Sonnenfeld – This allows Russia to make a mockery of the UN. The main mission of this organization is not to print pamphlets for children to read in school, but to maintain peace. But it was unable to do so over the past year, despite the fact that 145 UN members voted to condemn Russia’s actions.”

Sonnenfeld admits that moving this issue forward in the US requires political support from both Democrats and Republicans to increase pressure on the US government.

Legal impasse

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mantas Adomenasin turn, adds: last year showed the fundamental weaknesses of the UN.

“Russia, as the heir of the Soviet Union, is now using this position to use its immunity as a permanent member of the Security Council to violate the UN charter. We are in a legal impasse, as Russia will veto any changes,” says Adomenas.

However, the official emphasizes, if member states want to maintain trust in the UN, they should initiate reform of the Security Council, including by expanding the Security Council and, thus, limiting Russia’s ability to manipulate and exploit this body.