Knoxville (Tenn.) Daily Sun
Blackburn, Tenney lead charge to remove Russia from the UN Security Council
Daily Sun
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Representative Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) introduced a joint resolution urging the Biden administration to remove Russia from the United Nations Security Council. The resolution was co-sponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.)
“The Russian government is actively killing innocent Ukrainian civilians, committing war crimes, and invading sovereign territory unprovoked. At the same time, Moscow is driving decisions in the United Nations through its role as a Permanent Member of the Security Council. Russia must be exiled from the international community,” said Blackburn. “Putin is attempting to rebuild the Soviet Union and his ambassador should not be allowed to veto the United Nations’ response to Russian aggression. The Russian Federation is a direct threat to global security and the sovereignty of our international partners.”
“Russia is setting a new and dangerous precedent by abusing its role on the UN Security Council to shield itself from accountability for its blatantly illegal and unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country. This resolution is certainly a tall order given the procedural hurdles it faces in the Security Council, but it does not mean Congress should back down. If international bodies are to garner the trust of the American people, symbolic efforts such as this are vital. We must call out the hypocrisy of Russia’s actions, and force Moscow to publicly defend its continued position on such an important body given its reckless actions and increasingly rogue status on the international stage. A country willing to take such blatant steps to provoke war, jeopardize the safety of civilians, and undermine the sovereignty of a founding UN member state should not retain its powerful position as a Permanent Member of the Security Council. I stand in strong support of the Ukrainian people and will continue to push for a robust diplomatic response to Vladimir Putin’s evil actions,” said Tenney.
“Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine and barrage of threats against countries that have come to Ukraine’s aid fly in the face of the UN Security Council’s mission to maintain international peace and security. It’s absurd to see Russia remain in the UN Security Council, let alone preside over meetings on its own malicious invasion of its neighbor. I’m glad to join Sen. Blackburn and my colleagues on a resolution calling on the United Nations to hold Vladimir Putin accountable, and remove Russia from the Security Council,” Grassley said.
"Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine violates the principal purpose of the U.N. Security Council, namely to uphold international peace and security among nations. That alone is reason enough to strip Russia of its permanent membership on the council," Hyde-Smith said.
“Putin’s unjustifiable and unlawful invasion of Ukraine has violated the sovereignty of a free country and American partner. Now, Russia is shamelessly using its position on the UN Security Council to block action that holds it accountable for this is a blatant act of war. The United States must stand on the side of freedom and do everything possible to remove Russia from this position of power it has so clearly abused and does not deserve,” said Rick Scott.
“The world saw a charade at the U.N. last week as Vladimir Putin—a dictator and thug who is actively and ruthlessly invading a sovereign nation—blocked the Security Council’s resolution to condemn the unprovoked atrocity happening against the people of Ukraine right now,” said Ernst. “Putin has demonstrated in plain view his ruthlessness and complete disregard for humanity and our international norms, and the idea that he and his cronies should have a vote on the U.N.’s Security Council is an absolute disgrace. Russia should be expelled from the Security Council immediately.”
“Putin is a thug, and he must be held accountable for his attack on the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Russia should not be on the UN Security Council,” Daines said.
Background:
This resolution urges the Biden Administration to take all steps necessary to remove the Russian Federation as a Permanent Member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
Removing Russia’s status as a Permanent Member of the Security Council eliminates Moscow’s veto power over Security Council Resolutions.
Allowing Russia to retain its permanent position despite its abuse of international law threatens the very credibility of the Security Council and undermines the fundamental values of peace and security on which the United Nations is built.
It is also possible that the USSR’s seat was never properly transferred to the Russian Federation, as there was not a formal process such as amendment of the UN Charter after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Moscow was granted its seat on the Security Council on the basis of the UN’s legal office, with no action ever taken by the General Assembly to formally approve it.