The Russian delegation at the 48th session of the UN Human rights council (HRC) in Geneva drew attention to shortcomings in the work of the Independent international commission of inquiry on human rights violations in Syria, in particular, to the use of human rights issues by it for short-term political purposes. The commission's reports ignore the topics of foreign occupation of Syrian territory and the use of illegal sanctions against Damascus, said Artur Chernyakov, representative of the Russian delegation at the session on Thursday.
He said that Moscow had repeatedly pointed to shortcomings in the work of the commission, which, in particular, "regularly goes beyond its mandate, talking about the possible use of chemical weapons by the authorities of the Syria". In its latest report published last week, Chernyakov said that "the commission's vicious practice of using a human-rights based discourse for short-term goals to please states interested in overthrowing the legitimate government of Syria is plainly traceable. At the same time, "the topics of foreign occupation of the territory of Syria, plundering of natural resources and application of illegal unilateral sanctions are silenced".
The materials of the commission show that the terrorists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (an organization banned in Russia) "are perhaps the least evil in Syria," continued the representative of the Russian delegation. Against this background, "the authorities' efforts to overcome the crisis as well as the imperative to continue the fight against terrorism are stubbornly ignored," Chernyakov said. "We do not see how these biased conclusions can help consolidate international efforts to achieve a political settlement in Syria," the diplomat said. - "Rather the opposite - such conclusions alienate the conclusion of peace."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Imago / TASS
Based on materials from TASS