Explanation of vote before the vote on the draft Resolution on Combating glorification of Nazism and neo-Nazism

Mr. Chair,

I would like to make a statement in explanation of the vote on the draft resolution L.5 to be considered by the Committee.

Mr. Chair,

I reaffirm Ukraine’s strongest condemnation of all forms of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and reiterate our consistent and longstanding position that the draft has nothing in common with the genuine fight against Nazism, neo-Nazism and other forms of intolerance.

On the contrary, by submitting this draft, Russia attempts to exploit the pretext of combating neo-Nazism to justify its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and its heinous war crimes and crimes against humanity.

We are grateful to our colleagues from Australia, Liberia, Japan, and North Macedonia for tabling two important substantive amendments, aimed at revealing the true purpose of the resolution. This purpose is nothing but manipulation, a distortion of history, and an abuse of our common victory over Nazism, to which millions of Ukrainians made an enormous contribution by sacrificing themselves.

We also express our gratitude to all delegations that supported these amendments, based precisely on the report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.

Despite the adopted amendment is a step in the right direction, the draft itself still serves the goal of manipulation and misuse.

This was confirmed in the abovementioned report and I quote: “The Special Rapporteur notes, with alarm, that the Russian Federation has sought to justify its military invasion and territorial aggression in Ukraine on the purported basis of eliminating neo-Nazism. This is a blatant instrumentalization of the serious human rights concerns raised by neo-Nazi mobilizations where they exist.”

It is the height of hypocrisy when the aggressor submits the resolution aimed at combating the ideology once used to justify the same form of aggression against sovereign states that Russia itself is now resorting to against Ukraine.

Next thing we need to hear is a lecture from a compulsive rapist in the middle of the act of violence about the need to condemn the rape - that’s the epitome of today’s criminal and sick Russia.

Therefore, I encourage you to vote AGAINST the draft resolution L.5.

Thank you.