Global community must disqualify Russia from leading in worldwide anti-chemical weapons body, says Ukraine

Given Russia’s violations of international conventions on the use of chemical weapons, the global community must disqualify Russia from leading in the worldwide anti-chemical weapons body, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Toxic chemicals, including riot control agents, are reportedly being deployed across frontlines in Ukraine, a practice widely condemned as a breach of international standards,” it said.

“While Russia wages this aggressive war, it cannot simultaneously be allowed to hold influential positions within the OPCW, including seats in decision-making bodies,” it added, referring to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), where Russia is seeking a seat in its executive council.

Denys Mykhailiuk, Chargé d’affaires of the Ukraine Embassy in Malaysia, said that in the upcoming 2024-2027 elections of the OPCW executive council, Russia must be disallowed from leveraging its position in the OPCW.

“Allowing a state that blatantly disregards CWC norms to hold a seat at the OPCW not only undermines the institution’s credibility but also sends a dangerous message to the world: that aggression and violation of international law can go unchecked,” said Mykhailiuk.

Czech Republic or Republic of North Macedonia for OPCW

The ministry reiterated the call of Eastern European Group (EEG) members of OPCW, seeking the disqualification of Russia from serving on a council dedicated to the elimination of chemical weapons.

Most EEG members endorse the candidacies of the Czech Republic and the Republic of North Macedonia, “countries with a proven track record in upholding OPCW values and contributing to global chemical weapons eradication.”

“The OPCW, which stands as the primary international body working toward the eradication of chemical weapons, in order to achieve a world safe from chemical weapon threats, must be led by countries that respect and support its mission,” Ukraine’s MFA said.

“Permitting Russia to hold a seat on the Executive Council would send a clear message that undermines the OPCW’s credibility and potentially emboldening further disregard for chemical weapons bans,” it added.

Ukraine’s MFA said Russia’s “disturbing” use of hazardous chemical substances and riot against in its war against Ukraine is a “clear breach of paragraph 5 Article 1” of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which explicitly prohibits the use of chemical weapons as a method of warfare.

The ministry listed the following documented cases of Russia’s chemical weapons use: the 2018 poisoning of the Skripals in the United Kingdom with a Novichok nerve agent; the 2020 poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny; and most recently, Russian forces’ use of riot control agents (RCAs) like chloropicrin in Ukraine. Chloropicrin is a chemical agent explicitly banned by the CWC for use in warfare.

“Russia’s use of such agents, glorified by state-controlled media as a tactic in the ongoing conflict, poses a serious breach of international standards,” Ukraine’s MFA said.

The ministry also said Russia’s attack on Ukraine is an attack on global peace and security.

“Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine…is not solely an attack on Ukraine but a direct assault on the very foundation of international law, the UN (United Nations) Charter, and the collective security structure designed to protect all nations. It is an aggression that affects us all,” it said.

“Russian aggression must be unequivocally confronted, with international unity and a strong stance from the OPCW and its members. Only through decisive and collective action can we ensure that chemical weapons are never normalized as tools of war and that global security and order are preserved for future generations,” it added.