UN Authority Figures

UN General Assembly, Vice-President: Russia

Russian airstrikes in Syria have killed more than 1,000 civilians, including more than 200 children, since they were launched almost four months ago. Photo: Russian Tupolev TU-22 bombers conduct an air strike in Syria.
Source: The Guardian, January 20, 2016

Mission of the General Assembly:
"13. The General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of:
    a. promoting international co-operation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification;
    b. promoting international co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion." ("UN Charter")

Term of office: Permanent

Russia's Record on "the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion":
"The most significant human rights problems were: Restrictions on Political Participation and Freedom of Expression, Assembly, and Media: Authorities restricted citizens' ability to choose their government through free and fair elections and increasingly instituted a range of measures to suppress dissent. The government passed repressive laws and selectively employed existing ones to harass, discredit, prosecute, imprison, detain, fine, and suppress individuals and organizations critical of the government. Amendments to antiterrorism laws, known as the "Yarovaya package," granted authorities sweeping powers. Authorities especially targeted individuals and organizations that professed support for the government of Ukraine or opposed the Russian government's activities in Ukraine. Suppression of Civil Society: Authorities further stymied the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) through the "foreign agents" and "undesirable foreign organization" laws. Authorities also significantly expanded the definition of political activities to bring more NGOs under the "foreign agents" category. Authorities began fining NGOs for not disclosing "foreign agent" status, while courts closed NGOs for violations involving the foreign agents' list. Under the expanded definition of political activities, authorities added environmental and HIV-prevention organizations to the list. Government Discrimination against Minorities: Authorities continued to discriminate against members of some religious and ethnic minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons; and migrant workers... Other problems included allegations of torture and excessive force by law enforcement officers that sometimes led to deaths; prison overcrowding, and substandard and life-threatening prison conditions; executive branch pressure on the judiciary; lack of due process in politically motivated cases; electoral irregularities; extensive official corruption; violence against women; limits on women's rights; trafficking in persons; discrimination against persons with disabilities; social stigma against persons with HIV/AIDS; and limitations on workers' rights. The government failed to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish most officials who committed abuses, resulting in a climate of impunity."
(U.S. State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2016, Russia)