- September 6, 2024
- 3:41 pm
- World News
Lavrov, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, once again demonstrated a favorite method of Russian diplomacy: manipulating facts in order to mislead domestic audiences and reinforce the narrative of “Western double standards.”
«Just recently history repeated itself: when the ICC hinted at the need to put the Israeli leadership on the wanted list, they immediately shook hands and these conversations died down. Against this background, when the same US demands that all countries fulfill their sacred duty and arrest Putin, even a person not versed in politics understands how much this not only smacks of double standards, but consists of them,” Lavrov is quoted by Russian propaganda media September 6, 2024.
His attempt to portray the US and Ukraine as hypocritical and unfair towards Russia is nothing more than a classic ploy to stir up anti-Western sentiments among the Russian public, especially those who blindly trust state media.
First, Lavrov calls Ukraine's demand to punish Mongolia for refusing to arrest Putin “rudeness,” while ignoring the fact that the arrest warrant itself was issued on the basis of international law, to which dozens of countries around the world have submitted. Mongolia, which signed an agreement with the ICC, has failed to fulfill its obligations, and Ukraine rightly criticizes this step. Lavrov, however, is trying to present this as “aggression” on the part of Ukraine, which is clearly manipulative – he distorts the essence of the criticism, presenting it as something offensive, when in fact it is the defense of international justice.
Lavrov then focuses on the US’s alleged double standards, citing its “protection of Israel from ICC prosecution.” However, this is a clear attempt to divert attention from Russia’s own crimes in Ukraine. Russian rhetoric constantly uses such arguments – by pointing out the shortcomings of others, they seek to distract the audience from their own violations. Accusing the US of pressuring the ICC is a way for Lavrov to discredit the entire institution of international justice, pretending that Russia is being accused not for its actions, but simply because it is “not pleasing to the West.”
Particularly hypocritical is his assertion that US accusations of double standards are “not just signs, but the very essence of Western policy.” Lavrov fails to mention that the Russian government denies the ICC’s decisions and withdrew from its membership to avoid accountability for its crimes, including the kidnapping and deportation of Ukrainian children. His statements are not an attempt to defend international law, but banal propaganda for a domestic audience, aimed at inciting anti-Western sentiment and reinforcing the image of a “besieged fortress.”
Lavrov is also trying to manipulate perceptions in India by blaming Ukraine for criticizing Narendra Modi for his visit to Russia. However, here he is clearly trying to play on the feelings of his “cotton wool” electorate, for whom any criticism of Russia’s allies must be cast in a negative light. He is deliberately exaggerating the significance of this episode to highlight the “hypocrisy” of Ukraine and its allies, while ignoring Russia’s own repeated attempts to put pressure on countries that are hesitant to support Ukraine.
Thus, Lavrov is not simply criticizing Western countries – he is skillfully playing on the fears and stereotypes of the Russian audience, which has been subjected to powerful propaganda for years. His words are not foreign diplomacy, but domestic propaganda aimed at strengthening trust in the government and creating a false image of Russia as a victim of an international conspiracy.
On March 17, 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, accusing him of illegally removing Ukrainian children from the occupied territories of Donbas to Russia. This charge is based on evidence that the Russian leadership violated international law and rules regarding the protection of civilians in the conflict zone. The arrest warrant for Putin is part of an international effort to bring to justice those responsible for serious crimes.
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