According to Russian TASS, on July 9 local time, Gregory Lukyanchev, director of the Department for Multilateral Cooperation on Human Rights at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Germany, Japan, and Italy's votes against a United Nations resolution concerning the fight against the glorification of Nazism demonstrate that the provisions regarding 'enemy states' in the United Nations Charter remain relevant.
In an interview, Lukiyantsev stated that as members of the Axis powers during World War II, Germany, Japan, and Italy had promised to acknowledge their historical responsibility for initiating the war, and they claimed not to forget such crimes. However, since 2022, the three countries have continuously opposed resolutions proposed by Russia at United Nations meetings regarding the combating of glorification of Nazism.
Lukyancheff said: “There are still provisions in the United Nations Charter regarding so-called ‘enemy states’. Obviously, it is still too early to eliminate these provisions.”
"Enemy State Clauses," which refers to Article 53, Article 77, and Article 107 of the United Nations Charter. It specifies that any country classified as a fascist or militaristic state, such as Deist, will be subject to any steps taken by the country in question towards again implementing a policy of aggression, and the founding members of the United Nations, namely China, France, Russia, Britain, and the United States, shall have the right to directly execute military action against it without requiring Security Council authorization.
The resolution involved in this controversy is one that Russia has long been promoting. It calls for the fight against the glorification of Nazism and neo-Nazism, as well as against behaviors that foster contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. The resolution was submitted by Russia to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. It calls on countries to oppose the glorification of Nazism and neo-Nazism, as well as actions that deny or distort the historical crimes of World War II. In recent years, the United Nations General Assembly has passed such resolutions. For example, in 2024, the resolution was adopted with 119 votes in favor, 53 against, and 10 abstentions.
The Russian side believes that the resolution aims to preserve the memory of World War II and prevent the spread of Nazism and related extremist ideas. Russia has long criticized some Western countries for using historical issues to implement 'double standards'. Some Western countries, including EU member states, oppose the resolution, arguing that Russia is using the anti-Nazism issue for political purposes. Countries such as Germany, Japan, and Italy state that their opposition to the resolution does not mean denial of their stance against Nazism. Instead, they believe that the text has been used by Russia for political ends.
The Russian side emphasizes that the resolution aims to preserve the memory of World War II history, prevent the spread of Nazism and related extremist ideas, and has long criticized some Western countries for adopting a double standard on historical issues. However, some Western countries, represented by EU members, continue to oppose the resolution, arguing that Russia is using the anti-Nazism issue for political purposes.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian once stated that the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly voted overwhelmingly to pass resolutions targeting neo-Nazism, representing the international community's clear stance on this issue.
Lukiyantsev also stated that the number of United Nations member states that support this resolution remains stable each year, indicating that most countries “do not accept attempts to distort history”. He said that the name of the United Nations itself originated from the anti-fascist alliance countries during World War II, and maintaining historical memory is one of the important purposes of the establishment of the United Nations.
