Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (Security Council), took over the rotating presidency in April.
Criticism emerges from some.
Andrius Kubelius, a member of the European Parliament of Lithuania, mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Security Council on the 29th of last month and criticized “how a war criminal can become the president of the United Nations Security Council.”
On March 17, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin.
The ICC said it had reasonable grounds to believe that Putin was responsible for the war crimes of “illegal movement” of children from occupied Ukraine.
The ambassador of Ukraine to the United Nations, Serhiy Kislicha, told the British “Guardian” on the 31st of last month that Ukraine would not attend the meetings of the Security Council during April, when Russia took over as chairman, saying, “It’s absurd for one. April Fool’s Day joke.”
President Putin announced on the 25th of last month that he would use tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a key ally.
Critics question how Russia can hold the helm at the United Nations.
The 15-member Security Council is the United Nations’ most powerful body and can authorize military action, deploy peacekeepers, suspend states and individuals, and refer war crimes cases to the ICC.
The Council chairs in turn every month, and it is Russia’s turn this April.
Russia had invaded Ukraine during the previous presidency. On February 24 last year, when Russia was chairing the country, President Putin declared a ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine, and the war in Ukraine began.
VOA News
