Statement by representative of the Russian Federation Mr.Stepan Kuzmenkov at UNSC Arria meeting on "Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine"
Mr.Chair,
Let me start by stating clearly that we take part in this event only in observance of an established tradition among UNSC members. Our presence in this room under does not indicate either our endorsement of the so-called Commission of Inquiry or our willingness to cooperate with it in any way. This is simply not possible. Obvious anti-Russian bias and political prejudice of this body leaves us no other choice.
I remind that the resolution on the establishment of the so-called Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was adopted at the initiative of Ukraine and its Western sponsors and designed to divert attention from the criminal policy of the Kiev authorities towards their own people while placing all responsibility on Russia.
The Western countries that sided with Ukraine deliberately turned a blind eye to the massive human rights violations by the Ukrainian regime and crimes committed during the civil war that Kiev unleashed back in 2014. We have never heard them say a word to condemn the 9 years of attacks against the population of Donetsk and Lugansk, the killings of thousands of people, including children, and the suffering caused by unstopping bombardment and blockade.
So there is no point waiting for experts of the Commission to pay attention to Ukraine's crimes, to its routine strikes against peaceful quarters in the cities of Donbas, Zaporozhye, and Kherson region, which have been launched (for a long time by now) from West-supplied weapons. This Board is just another tool for exerting political pressure on Russia and the dissemination of false information.
Nevertheless, all crimes of the Kiev regime are being thoroughly documented by both Russian investigative bodies and civil society. To this end, international and Russian human rights activists and public figures established the International Public Tribunal on Ukraine in March 2022. We would like to hand over to the members of the Commission a book authored by the chair of the Tribunal, Mr. Maxim Grigoriev. The book is titled “Ukraine’s Crimes against Humanity (2022-2023)”. Having read this, they will learn a lot about what is really happening in Ukraine and in the Russian territories that are subjected to attacks by Kiev.
We hope that when we invite Mr.Grigoriev to brief the Council on the activities of the International Public Tribunal, our Western colleagues will not shy away from participation.
Thank you.
