International Diplomacy Heats Up: Baiba Braže's Unyielding Rebuke of Putin's Regime at the United Nations

In recent international forums, Latvia's Foreign Minister Baiba Braže has been a vocal advocate for action against Russia's human rights abuses and military aggression towards Ukraine.

During the G7+ Foreign Ministers Meeting on Ukraine Energy Sector Support, Braže emphasised the urgent need for support in restoring and strengthening energy infrastructure, as well as undermining Russia's military capabilities. She also highlighted the importance of eroding Russia's ability to continue its systematic attacks on Ukraine and civilian infrastructure.

At the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 23 September 2024, Braže thanked the Special Rapporteur for her work and voiced strong support for the continuation of her mandate. In her statement, she highlighted Russia's brutal human rights violations against its own people and Ukrainians.

On the following day, Braže addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva via video link on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic states. She referred to the latest report by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, Mariana Katzarova, and highlighted Russia's systematic stifling of dissent, silencing of independent media, and repression of civil society organisations.

Braže noted that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and blatant disregard for international law and human rights have fostered a climate of terror and fear across the country. She reaffirmed Latvia's readiness to continue supporting Ukraine and called for sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet" of sanctions-busting ships.

At an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, Braže also reiterated Latvia's commitment to supporting Ukraine.

In addition to these meetings, Braže participated in the meeting of the Baltic and Nordic (NB8) Foreign Ministers, as well as a global high-level forum on AI governance.

All international instruments must be mobilised to hold Russia accountable for its grave human rights violations, Braže recalled, but there are no available search results indicating who gave a speech on September 24, 2024, in Geneva during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council about Russia's brutal human rights violations against its own citizens and Ukrainians.

International Diplomacy Heats Up: Baiba Braže's Unyielding Rebuke of Putin's Regime at the United Nations