OSCE declines to comment why Secretary General avoids referring to Russia as aggressor

This is evidenced by the response from the OSCE Secretariat’s communications and media relations department to an information request by Ukrinform.

The request asked the OSCE Secretariat to comment on Sinirlioğlu’s remarks made during a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on March 11. During the conference, the OSCE Secretary General stated that the Russian Federation is “a very important partner within the OSCE.” The request also sought clarification on how this assessment aligns with Russia’s violations of international law and OSCE commitments.

Additionally, Ukrinform inquired whether the issue of the three OSCE employees who remain illegally imprisoned by Russia was discussed during the visit and whether any progress was made regarding their release.

The request further asked why the OSCE Secretary General, in his recent public statements, has refrained from directly naming Russia as the aggressor in the ongoing war against Ukraine and whether Sinirlioğlu publicly acknowledges Russia’s responsibility for initiating and continuing its war of aggression against a sovereign neighbour.

In response, the OSCE Secretariat’s press office provided the following statement:

“The key focus of the Secretary General’s visit to Moscow was the efforts towards ending the war in Ukraine, which has inflicted immense loss and suffering on millions of people. In his discussions, the Secretary General reiterated his call to end the senseless violence and tragic suffering, and put the civilians, their lives and well-being at the top of our priorities. He also underscored that OSCE remains a key platform for security dialogue among all its participating States and that the Organization stands ready to support efforts towards ending the war and beyond in any way it can be useful to the sides. In his meetings, the Secretary General also raised the issue of our three colleagues who remain in detention in Donetsk and Luhansk for almost three years.”

As reported by Ukrinform, OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu visited Moscow on March 11, where he held “frank and productive discussions” with the foreign minister of the aggressor state, Sergey Lavrov. During a joint press conference with Lavrov, Sinirlioğlu referred to Russia as a “very important partner within the OSCE” and did not once directly mention Russia’s responsibility for waging war against Ukraine.

Earlier, during the opening of the OSCE PA winter meeting in Vienna on February 20, Sinirlioğlu called for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine through diplomacy. However, in his speech, he made no mention of Russia or the Russian nature of the war against Ukraine.

In December 2024, the OSCE Ministerial Council approved new leadership for the Organization, appointing Turkish diplomat Feridun Sinirlioğlu as the new OSCE Secretary General.

Photo: OP