TTN – In recent years, Russia has been accused of numerous violations of international conventions regarding the use of chemical weapons, igniting global concern about its candidacy for a seat on the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The Russian Federation’s continued and blatant disregard for international law, including the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), has taken a disturbing turn in its use of hazardous chemical substances and riot control agents in its war against Ukraine. This conduct constitutes a clear breach of paragraph 5 of Article I of the CWC, which explicitly prohibits the use of chemical weapons as a method of warfare.
Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine underscores the precarious state of global peace and security—a stark reminder of the consequences when a nation chooses to disregard the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a rules-based international order. This is not solely an attack on Ukraine but a direct assault on the very foundation of international law, the UN Charter, and the collective security structure designed to protect all nations. It is an aggression that affects us all.
Russia continues to violate its obligations under the CWC, viewing these violations as acceptable means to further its military objectives. Toxic chemicals, including riot control agents, are reportedly being deployed across frontlines in Ukraine, a practice widely condemned as a breach of international standards. While Russia wages this aggressive war, it cannot simultaneously be allowed to hold influential positions within the OPCW, including seats in decision-making bodies.
Russia’s track record includes documented cases of chemical weapons use, such as the 2018 poisoning of the Skripals in the UK with a Novichok nerve agent and the 2020 poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Most recently, Russian forces in Ukraine reportedly employed riot control agents (RCAs) like chloropicrin, a chemical agent explicitly banned by the CWC for use in warfare. Russia’s use of such agents, glorified by state-controlled media as a tactic in the ongoing conflict, poses a serious breach of international standards and, according to Eastern European Group (EEG) members of OPCW, disqualifies Russia from serving on a council dedicated to the elimination of chemical weapons.
“As the upcoming 2025-2027 elections approach, for all these reasons, Russia must not be allowed to leverage its position within this respected international organization. Allowing a state that blatantly disregards CWC norms to hold a seat at the OPCW not only undermines the institution’s credibility but also sends a dangerous message to the world: that aggression and violation of international law can go unchecked”, – said Denys Mykhailiuk, Chargé d’affaires of the Ukraine Embassy in Malaysia.
Ukraine and numerous EEG members argue that allowing Russia a seat on the OPCW Executive Council would undermine the fundamental principles of the CWC. The OPCW, which stands as the primary international body working toward the eradication of chemical weapons, in order to achieve a world safe from chemical weapon threats, must be led by countries that respect and support its mission. Permitting Russia to hold a seat on the Executive Council would send a clear message that undermines the OPCW’s credibility and potentially emboldening further disregard for chemical weapons bans.
In light of these concerns, the majority of EEG members endorse the candidacies of the Czech Republic and the Republic of North Macedonia, countries with a proven track record in upholding OPCW values and contributing to global chemical weapons eradication.
Ukraine and other EEG members urge the international community to support candidates committed to upholding the CWC’s goals and principles. This vote is not only a matter of representation but a decisive step in preserving global safety and accountability.
Russian aggression must be unequivocally confronted, with international unity and a strong stance from the OPCW and its members. Only through decisive and collective action can we ensure that chemical weapons are never normalized as tools of war and that global security and order are preserved for future generations.
