Moscow Does Not Recognize The Mandate Of The UN Special Reporter For Russia

JAKARTA - Moscow does not recognize the activities of the UN Human Rights Council Special Reporter for human rights in Russia, Mariana Katzarova, as legitimate and considers all interactions with her unacceptable, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The diplomatic agency explained, at the European Union's initiative, the Council will reconsider a "political and highly confrontational" draft resolution calling for the extension of Katzarova's mandate for one year.

"Russian position in this case remains unchanged: Moscow does not recognize the mandate of this illegal special procedure and any form of cooperation with it is unacceptable to the Russian Federation," the ministry said, launching TASS September 9.

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the 60th hearing of the UN Human Rights Council was underway in Geneva from September 8 to October 8.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that the Russian delegation, which has observer status at the meeting, plans to use all available opportunities to reduce confrontation and promote understanding among international partners about the importance of encouraging dialogue on human rights with respect to national, cultural and historical characteristics of each country.

Quoted from the website of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Office, the Special Reporting mandate for the human rights situation in the Russian Federation was formed by the Human Rights Council at the 51st hearing in October 2022.

The 51/25 resolution (A/HRC/RES/51/25), which stipulates the mandate, mentions concerns over the "significant decline in the human rights situation in the Russian Federation, in particular strict restrictions on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, assembly and association peacefully, both online and offline, resulting in systematic crackdowns on civil society organizations".

In April 2023, the Human Rights Council appointed Mariana Katzarova for the position to officially take office on May 1, 2023. On October 12, 2023, the Human Rights Council decided to renew the mandate for one year (A/HRC/RES/54/23.

The Special Reporter submitted his first report at the 54th hearing of the Human Rights Council on September 21-22, 2023 in Geneva and delivered a speech at the 78th Assembly of the United Nations on October 25, 2023 in New York.