Russia’s False Claims About the OSCE: UK Statement Clarifies Record

In a sharp rebuke to Russian claims about the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Kingdom has countered Moscow’s narrative that Western states have undermined the organization’s founding principles.

During a recent OSCE meeting, the British representative responded to a statement released by Russia ahead of visits by the OSCE Chairperson-in-office and Secretary General. The Russian statement had alleged that Western participating states were responsible for destroying the OSCE by abandoning its core values.

“This is not correct,” the British representative stated plainly. “One participating State has been responsible for repeated and serious violations of those principles, and that State is Russia.”

The UK’s intervention highlighted Russia’s actions in Ukraine as fundamental violations of the Helsinki Final Act—the OSCE’s founding document—which requires member states to refrain from threatening or using force, to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to resolve disputes peacefully.

“Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing attacks that have severely impacted civilians and critical infrastructure show a clear disregard for these commitments,” the representative said, characterizing Moscow’s position as hypocritical given its ongoing military campaign.

The British statement also refuted Russia’s claim that it has been marginalized within the OSCE framework. Instead, the UK pointed to multiple instances where the international community attempted to engage Russia through established OSCE mechanisms before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including the Renewed European Security Dialogue and Early Warning Mechanism.

“Russia has repeatedly refused to engage, avoided meetings and spread false narratives,” the British representative said, adding that Moscow continues to deny access to occupied territories, hampering the OSCE’s ability to monitor humanitarian conditions.

Of particular concern is the ongoing detention of three OSCE staff members—Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov—who have been held by Russia since April 2022 while performing their official duties. The British representative emphasized that their detention, now approaching four years, fundamentally contradicts Russia’s claims of supporting OSCE principles.

“A State that imprisons its own OSCE colleagues cannot claim to defend its principles,” the representative stated.

The UK also addressed Russia’s dismissal of certain OSCE mechanisms, including the Moscow Mechanism, which allows the organization to investigate potential human rights violations. These tools were established by consensus among member states, and Russia’s current rejection “does not change their validity or purpose,” according to the British statement.

The OSCE, which emerged from the Cold War as Europe’s premier security forum with 57 participating states across North America, Europe, and Asia, has faced significant challenges since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Its consensus-based decision-making model has been strained by the conflict, with Russia frequently blocking initiatives related to Ukraine monitoring and humanitarian assistance.

Despite these challenges, the UK affirmed its commitment to the organization’s founding principles and to supporting Ukraine. “The UK will continue to stand with Ukraine and support the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes. These remain the foundation of this Organisation,” the representative concluded.

The exchange highlights the deepening divide within the OSCE, once seen as a vital bridge between East and West, as Russia’s actions in Ukraine continue to test the organization’s ability to fulfill its security mandate in Europe.