Belarus UN Secretary-General's trip to Russia draws criticism

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has drawn sharp criticism during a visit to Russia for shaking hands with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and warmly embracing Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko.

"It's the third year of war, and the UN Secretary-General has shaken hands with a murderer," wrote Putin opponent Yulia Navalnaya on the short message service X. She holds Putin responsible not only for the death of her husband Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison camp, but also for the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Putin has been issued with an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged war crimes. Guterres also met Lukashenko, widely regarded as Europe's last dictator, at the summit of emerging economies with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) organized by Putin this year. During a meeting, there was an apparently warm embrace with the 70-year-old, as can be seen on a video from the Belarusian state channel Pul Pervovo on Telegram.

Lukashenko also presented the 75-year-old with a sculpture of storks, which are considered a symbol of peace in Belarus. Eastern Europe expert Janis Kluge from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin wrote about Guterres on X: "Can someone take the old man home? He seems to be confused and these people are taking advantage of him." Lukashenko also supports Putin in his war against Ukraine. The leadership in Kiev had also sharply criticized Guterres for the trip.

A United Nations statement said that Guterres had emphasized in a conversation with Putin that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine was a violation of the UN Charter and international law. The United Nations is committed to a just peace, it added.

Putin celebrated the summit with representatives from more than 30 countries as a historic event on the way to a new multipolar world order without Western dominance. In addition to Guterres, other guests at the summit also called for a just peace in Ukraine.

SDA