South Africa’s Lamola Condones MoU with Sanctioned Russian Official Amid DA Criticism of Diplomatic Hypocrisy

In a reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola condoned the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Gauteng Legislature and the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg by a Russian lawmaker under European sanctions.

The MoU was signed in January 2026 by Winifred Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature, and Aleksandr Nikolaevich Belskiy, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg.

Belskiy is subject to sanctions by the European Union under Regulation 269/2014, which imposes restrictive measures in response to actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

According to the OpenSanctions website, Belskiy is responsible for inciting hatred against Ukraine, spreading pro-Russian disinformation and propaganda in the context of the war, and seeking to garner domestic support in Russia for the war against Ukraine.

Lamola told parliament that South Africa does not take sides in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has positioned the country as a mediator in what he refers to as a ‘conflict’.

The DA has criticised the agreement, describing it as an example of ‘diplomatic hypocrisy’ given Lamola’s stated position of neutrality while permitting engagement with a sanctioned Russian official.

The Democratic Alliance raised the matter through a parliamentary question, prompting Lamola’s response in which he did not object to the MoU’s execution.