Press release

International Maritime Organisation Council elections: FCDO statement

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson gave a statement following Russia's failure to gain election to the IMO Council.

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said:

In the last few weeks, Russia has failed to be elected to the International Court of Justice, Human Rights Council, UNESCO Executive Board, and the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.  Yesterday, it failed to be elected to the International Maritime Organisation Council.

This pattern of failure is no coincidence – any state that illegally invades another, commits a litany of human rights violations, attacks civilian ships, fires missiles at World Heritage sites, and contravenes the Chemical Weapons Convention, is manifestly unworthy of a role within these organisations.

The implications are clear: if Russia wishes to contribute to global governance, it must respect its international obligations.

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Updates to this page

Published 2 December 2023