I thank you Mr Chair. Thank you, Mr Chair. These Russian elections starkly underlined the depth of repression under President Putin’s regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war. Mr Chair, The United Kingdom condemns Russia’s failure to uphold our shared OSCE principles and commitments. We call on Russia to end aggression beyond its borders and repression within its borders. Russia must withdraw all its forces from the entirety of Ukraine. And, I confirm that the United Kingdom will continue to hold Russia to account in this Council for implementation of its OSCE commitments and for the consequences of its actions for our shared regional security. We all agreed in Moscow, Istanbul and Astana that implementation of OSCE commitments by one participating State is a matter of legitimate concern to all participating States. We all agreed in Moscow, Istanbul and Astana that implementation of OSCE commitments by one participating State is a matter of legitimate concern to all participating States. And it is of legitimate concern to this Council that Russia chose not to invite OSCE observers. That decision runs directly contrary to the OSCE commitments made by the Russian Federation, including commitments made at Copenhagen in 1990 and in Istanbul in 1999. As my Foreign Secretary has said, President Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy.
