Address to participants of 10th St Petersburg International Legal Forum
Vladimir Putin gave a video address to greet the participants of a plenary session of the 10th St Petersburg International Legal Forum. This year’s plenary session was themed Law in a Multipolar World. The video address was recorded during the President’s recent visit to St Petersburg.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
Colleagues,
I would like to welcome you to the 10th St Petersburg International Legal Forum, which, as always, has brought together leading jurists and practicing lawyers from many countries.
I am glad that after a forced interruption, the forum is again being held in person because even the most advanced communication technologies cannot replace a direct dialogue and face-to-face meetings.
Participants at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum recently discussed the most relevant political, financial, technological and cultural issues on the global agenda; many of these issues directly related to international law. It is important that you continue this conversation within this forum and discuss important topics like Law in a Multipolar World.
It is true, a multipolar system of international relations is now being formed. It is an irreversible process; it is happening before our eyes and is objective in nature. The position of Russia and many other countries is that this democratic, more just world order should be built on the basis of mutual respect and trust, and, of course, on the generally accepted principles of international law and the UN Charter.
At the same time, it is being said that law cannot adequately respond to the problems and challenges of today, to today’s turbulent and fundamental changes. There are also more radical assessments that the idea of international law is being dismantled. I fundamentally disagree with these conclusions.
Undoubtedly, the system of international law needs to be further developed, but we should not confuse cause and effect. Crises happen not because law is faulty, but because of attempts to replace law with dictate, and international standards with the national jurisdiction of certain states or groups of states in a deliberate refusal to follow essential legal principles – justice, conscientiousness, equality and humanity. These are not just legal ideals, but values that reflect the diversity of our civilisation.
Some states are not ready to accept losing their supremacy on the international stage, and they are striving to preserve the unjust unipolar model. Under the guise of what they call order based on rules, and other questionable concepts, they try to control and direct global processes at their own discretion, and hold to a course of creating closed blocs and coalitions that make decisions for the benefit of one country, the United States of America. The natural rights of others in international relations are being ignored; the fundamental principle of indivisibility of security is being used selectively. The West’s unilateral, illegitimate sanctions against sovereign states have reached an unprecedented scale.
I will add that the countries that advocate their own exceptionalism also overstep the law and cross out such concepts as inviolability of property and freedom of speech in their own domestic policy as well. In sum, the domination of one country or a group of countries on the global stage is not only counter-productive, but also dangerous and inevitably creates global, systemic risk.
The multipolar world of the 21st century does not have a place for inequality or for discrimination against states and peoples. Therefore, our country speaks for the practical realisation of the pivotal international legal principle of the sovereign equality of states and the right of each state to pursue its own development model.
The Russian foreign affairs agenda has always been and remains constructive. We develop multipolar relations with all who are interested in them and place great value on cooperation within the UN, the G20, BRICS, the SCO and other associations.
Russia is open to dialogue on ensuring strategic stability, preserving agreements on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and improving the situation in arms control. We are focused on joining efforts on crucial issues like the climate agenda, fighting famine, providing stability in food and energy markets, and fair rules in international trade and competition.
All of these areas require appropriate and flexible legal regulation and meticulous cooperation. With this approach, we could avoid crises such as the current one in Donbass that is happening to protect its residents from genocide – and there can be no other definition for the Kiev regime’s actions than “a crime against humanity.”
At the same time, Russia will continue to create a more democratic and just world where the rights of all peoples are guaranteed and mankind’s cultural and civilizational diversity is preserved.
I am confident that, by consistently following international law and joining our efforts, it is possible to resolve the most difficult problems that the world is facing and to provide for the stable, sustainable and progressive development of all states. Both practicing lawyers and jurists can and should bring a significant contribution to the recreation of the authority of law, strengthening its legal institutions and rebuilding trust in international relations.
I wish all of you productive work and interesting networking.
Thank you for your attention.
Whilst I’m all for multi-polarity, I can’t accept Russia’s hope for more democratic international relationships when they are clearly not a democratically run country themselves. It’s a hypocritical position.
Petr,
Interesting – I have a entirely different opinion. Namely, that they RF holds strict to rule of law and equal justice under law far more than in the US.
In the US state security executes thousands of innocent citizens every year for not Instantly obeying hastily barked ‚orders‘ . Children are executed by state security within 2 seconds. The sanctity of the ballot box is the laughing stock of the civilized world. (81milliom votes). The corruption is systemic and widespread.
And….somewhere in America a little two year girl is waking up; her mother is a stripper and father is a crack addict. But her grandfather is president.
To refer to Russia as “…clearly not a democratically run country” it helps to identify a proper democracy to compare them against. If only for the sake of arguement.
WTF are you talking about. Your head up your behind definition of ‘democracy’ is what ? bedded in the deplorable history of western barbarism. Do you think the US is a democracy ? Howl. Russia today is far more democratic than is the entire history of western ‘discivilization.’ Putin is elected with high % of popular support. Similar to the CPC he listens to the input from his public which he serves. Thank god there they have a system where actual decisions can be made, unlike the US which is capable of jack sh*t, except expressing the hidden hand of the bankers and global corporatists who fund and inform the ‘think’ tanks which actually make Govt. policy. Communists to this day are allowed to participate and campaign and are part of the electoral system. The US has a Mutt vs Jeff clown show, same crap different day since 1776, how to keep the monied elite in power and assets is the only purpose of this pseudo crap ‘constitution.’ So stick your ‘clearly’ where the sun don’t shine and maybe reserve your comments for CNN or MSNB and quite trolling here.
‘
@Petr,
Thank you for your opinion. Could you please point us to one truly democratic nation that we can use as a yardstick by which to measure your assertion? ;-)
Seriously though, a word of advice, delusional thinking is not a life skill anybody should try to develop nor be proud to display.
Maybe Iceland.
Certainly a fair candidate, marred only by their bank scandal to be honest. Although the legal system did jail most of them, the sentences were pretty light.
Yes let’s run with Iceland. Start measuring.
There is no real democracy in Europe, all governements obey to Brussels injunctions dicted by non-elected bureaucrats. You’re delusional, the EU is a clown show.
Russia is far more democratically run than the unelected cabal in the EU-EC.
If you combine the malleable concepts of “democracy” and “the right of each state to pursue its own development model”, you have a pretty broad scope for diverse workable models of national governance.
Arguably Russia’s version of democracy – it does satisfy the generally accepted definition – is better adapted and functional in its cultural context than the two examples I am directly familiar with in the West; Slovenia and Australia.
Da könnte ich eine ganze Seite vollschreiben wo das eher zuträfe.Vor allem den heuchlerischen Westen.Sie sind Tscheche wenn ich den Namen richtig deute.Der Prager Frühling war zu ganz anderen Zeiten.Stecken Sie im Denken dort fest?
George Orwell’s words in “Politics and the English Language” (1946) seem to apply.
“The words democracy, socialism, freedom, patriotic, realistic, justice, have each of them several different meanings which cannot be reconciled with one another. In the case of a word like democracy, not only is there no agreed definition, but the attempt to make one is resisted from all sides. It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it: consequently the defenders of every kind of régime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way. That is, the person who uses them has his own private definition, but allows his hearer to think he means something quite different”.
Why not get rid of democracy once and for all, since it’s just a scam?
I mean, Petr could have a point here: instead of blabbering about worldwide democracy, why not telling the plain truth, namely that democracy is only a form of government, with its pros and cons, just like every other form of government, which are no less respectable?
Rationality VS pseudo-religious democratic delusions.
Petr, it would be useful if you could define democracy for us.
Diga-me o nome de um país democrata:. ?
Claro, não existem democracias, talvez nunca houveram democracias. O sistema em que vivemos é uma corruptela da verdeira democracia. E se chama Oligarquia.
Russia and China are good examples of “Oligarquias”, amongst others.
Is the UK a democratic country, with its hereditary peers in the House of Lords?
Is the US a democratic country when in 3 of the last 6 elections the candidate with the highest popular vote wasn’t elected President: Gore in 2000; H. Clinton in 2016 & Trump in 2020? A 50% failure rate btw.
Is the EU a democratic institution when so many national referenda to ratify EU treaties by member-states were simply ignored or the member state was forced to vote again?
Is the European Commission voted on? Is the European Central Bank (the issuer of the € voted on)?
Is Japan – which has had the one party in government continuously for decades after WWII
Is France in which the elected government can ignore the votes of the National Assembly under Article 49?
Is Australia which had the same party in government for 23 years (1949-72)?
Is Singapore – when the London-trained Lee family have been in power for generations and appoints the editor of the Straits Times?
Please let us all know when you can name a truly democratic country – just one!
In the end of the day, “demos” “cratos” boils down to the social contract being honored by the ruling elite.
No more, no less.
Even a kind can be a true democrat – when he respects his people and, in effect, follows their wishes.
And even a freshly elected respresentative may be a totalitarian, or otherwise anti-people (anti-demos) focused person who abuses the granted powers the momet he gets them.
Sure, Athens used voting, but that was NOT the point of their system when compared against other states of the time. Voting was just the tool/mechanism to query the peoples opinion the used.
The differentiator was that the peoples opinion was supreme and was carried out by the ruling buerocracy.
At the end of the day, it is NOT about who the ruling buerocrats are. It is about WHAT THEY DO – they unequivocably take direction from the people they govern.
What Putin means by “democratic” is precisely this meaning – it is about respecting the will of the people. Whoever, wherever or how many ever they are.
It’s interesting that almost all of the responses to my first post were relative in nature – ie “please give me an example against which to compare Russia”. Presumedly so that the example country’s system can be criticised as not being a good democracy. There is no point to this exercise in relativism. It suffices to merely make comparisons to an ideal and go from there.
A starting point could be that an ideal democratic government is reflective of the people, and since the people are diverse in nature and thought, there should be diversity in the constituent parties and their influence on policy. I don’t see much diversity in Russian politics. Or Chinese, the US or many other countries for that matter. But diversity in representation is a sign of a healthy democracy.
“Whilst I’m all for multi-polarity, I can’t accept Russia’s hope for more democratic international relationships when they are clearly not a democratically run country themselves. It’s a hypocritical position.”
I think you finally figured out that the assertion you made was poorly phrased. There are no true democracies, perhaps at some point in time there was some discussion and respectful voting in small hunter-gatherer societies but even in Athens the ‘cradle of democracy’, thugs stood around with cudgels to make sure that the vote went the ‘right’ way. The United Nations is another good example of an undemocratic ‘democratic’ institution, look at how the US behaves “Either vote off the HR Council or ….”
To be quite frank, ‘Democracy’ is over-rated, do you think for one moment that a group of people of IQ 65 to 75 are able to understand complex societal problems enough to vote wisely to resolve them? Walk into a Walmart in the USA and explain to me how this is going to go, think of the mob in Rome and how the Senate transformed into a tool of Imperial control to further enrich the already enriched.
I laughed when I saw your post regarding Iceland. How can you even compare the democratic institutions of Iceland of population 377K and land area of 103K sq km with a very dominant Nordic heritage to Russia of population 150M and land area of 17.1M sq km with over 90 minority cultures speaking in over 18 different language groups. Both countries have evolved a partially democratic system that meets the needs of that country and functions well enough for that country to sustain itself. Whether Iceland is more or less ‘democratic’ is irrelevant as long as both meet the needs of the people in both short and long term (think generational here) planning.
At the end of the day, a government *regardless of the classification of type* must be judged by how well it responds to the needs of citizen measured against categories like; general physical health, general wealth retention, general education, general government efficiency, general environmental concerns, etc. During the Tang Dynasty in China you had one of the most efficient governments ever – in an Imperial system – and it would have high marks in all those categories taken against the science of the time.
If Putin, China, and the rest of the Eurasian countries form a government of whatever type that shows good improvements in all the categories of measure I mentioned above, and lifts us out of this cesspool of hatred and internecine warfare we as a species seem stuck in, I’m all for it regardless of how ‘democratic’ it might be.
I’ll leave you with a repost of mine, when I was very young we walked on the moon, were planning for Mars, and dreaming of reaching the stars – today’s generation is two androgynous overweight subhumans sitting in their moms basement arguing over which of the 62+ genders they think they are. All brought to you by ‘democracy’, it makes you weep.
I am 74 yrs old and still have no conception of what democracy is, has been or will be.
Before two millennia of white domination. It tries to build a better world for everyone. It remains to be seen whether Western racism and greed allow it or decide for the nuclear option.
The West never had or lost the habit of work and killing to steal is no longer a dignified way of living.
Of course, the Romans were a true model of decency. I’ll look forward to strolling through the lush markets of Carthage on my next trip to the Mediterranean. The Negros were so gentle to the Kalahari Bushmen as they gently stabbed them and took their land, and the Japanese showed true clemency when they gave the Anu a pittance of the former Anu territory to eke out a subsistence living.
Human nature is what it is, people need to stop thinking that *only* the west has a lock on domination, all countries have practised it. Ghengis Khan, Tamerlane both left mountains of skulls outside cities that had the audacity to resist.
Why would we be at all interested in what the Romans did or didn’t do? It’s what is happening now, to us, to the rest of the world that matters. And is it human nature? Putin doesn’t seem to think so, thankfully. Only the psychopaths in the west continue to act like that.
@JackJC
No other empire has brought death and destruction on the humankind like the British have done
“No other empire has brought death and destruction on the humankind like the British have done”
The US empire has done more.
@SimonC,
Human history denotes human behaviour, I’m surprised this isn’t self-evident. You think the barbarism of the cultures I mentioned isn’t practised by the Ukrainian Neo-Nazi’s today? You think that the SMO will eradicate it? It will go underground and resurface like it always has throughout history. Putin is a lawyer, he promotes a world based on respect and the Rule of Law, but Law has been subverted throughout history particularly when there is no functioning enforcement mechanism. Having said that, his wish was eloquently stated and I support the ideal, knowing it will never happen.
My response to the poster above is because I am damned sick and tired of seeing people pointing fingers at skin colour – and here you are supporting that with your post, all that you state you are against – ironic isn’t it?
@ bD
Thank you for your ‘opinion’, history much? All Empires commit evil acts – it’s a nature of Empire. The British Empire also brought trade, industry, education, infrastructure and scientific methods to the territories that lifted quality and length of life. There were more local supporters in general than detractors otherwise they wouldn’t have lasted 300 years, encompassed 25% of the world landmass and 20% of the world population – there were advantages to being a member. Native Americans fled the USA into Canada to escape to a more just ruling system but don’t let that tarnish your ‘opinion’ of them.
You forget the Spanish who rained death and destruction in the new world in numbers that will forever remain unknown yet gave nothing in return to those lands. You forget the Mongols who raged across Eurasia and the Middle East wiping out entire civilizations and killing off an estimated 8 to 15% of the total world population. On a Per Capita basis, they dealt death and destruction far above any other empire – ever – yet they also brought an efficient postal service, reasonable taxes, Pax Mongolica, and Religious Freedom. You haven’t even touched on the Japanese and their heinous WWII records of destruction in Asia – read the Rape of Nanjing by Iris Chang.
I could go on, but I’m pretty sure it’s pointless in your case.
Putin cant just ignore that America exists. America is here and more healthy, richer, bigger and more prepared than ever, and Putin know it.
Lol
@Tommy: By “America”, I assume you mean the USA. The American continent is so much more, and Mr Putin knows this too.
” America… more healthy, richer… prepared..”
LOL
Can you please elaborate?
Cause the last time I watched, Russia had 17% debt while the US had over 127% debt (30 trillion USD)
The US has an economy devoid of industrial production while Russia is a production economy.
Who’s in a better shape?
I believe Tommy is being sarcastic.
I believe Tommy is being sarcastic. I don’t.
Stop believing folks. Just told my son yesterday the difference between children and adults.
If any adult talk bs telling you “I believe in Obama, I dont believe Trump, I believe in green technology”, its because these adults have still not grown up.
If on the contrary you meet people who tell you what they know about something, you have met an adult.
Real adults are somebody who children can approach and get facts and real knowledge from.
What colour is the sky mom? The sky is blue!
Not: I am in doubt, I am sceptical, it depends, I believe its grey, you can see it in the weather forecast, ask mom.
USA are currently just choking on their own sanctions, wait what happens when Russia decides to sanction them back. Like stop selling Uranium, which USA is completely dependent on.
The US Declaration of Independence of 1776 was written to convince the landless farm boys and indentured servants to fight and die for the richest man in America, George Washington, because he did not wish to pay silver taxes to the British Crown, owned by the private Bank of England.
Then when the war was won, the Constitution was written to protect the rich landowners from the landless farm boys and indentured servants
“… George Washington, because he did not wish to pay silver taxes to the British Crown …”
Well, that and his annoyance with certain treaties having been established by the Crown with those pesky native American peoples that interfered with his westward land speculation. And the denial of his much sought-after King’s Commission in the regular British Army didn’t help either, of course. Poor mad old George III could have saved himself and his empire a lot of rebellious bother if only he had granted his namesake a royal lieutenancy in change of some minor outpost or other.
Absolutely 100% correct, K4.
The US Constitution was a document to legally protect property rights for owners of property.
Why can’t we all just get along?
I’d suggest it’s because very, very,, few of us can look at our own conduct and find it wanting…
-Wherever in the world you come from.
There *used* to be a website where people were freely allowed to pour scorn on the race or races or culture of their choice. Behind all the scatological references and general childishness, I learned many, many truths.
When I got over the shock of learning that us Britishers were NOT universally recognised across the world as bringers of decency and truth, I also realised that many things I’d noticed and some things I’d been told about “race” were in fact, keen observations.
To be honest, I collect “racist” ideas. I feel that knowing how a persons culture or ubringing has influenced them for both good or bad, is useful knowledge and far from causing division, makes it easier to understand where the other guy is coming from.
Some of you guys, can’t see that when that Ukrop in his foxhole “gets what’s coming to him”, that although the bigger picture war may be going well for “the side of right”, and doubtless the Ukrop “crispy critters” who thought they were fighting for the “security of their country” really died as part of some fiendish plan cooked up by people who will never face the consequences of their actions in this life.
I just hope that Vladimir Putin is the level headed and wise person he seems to be.
The English are extraordinarily brutal, like unbelievably so. It’s top to bottom a culture of brute force. Anyone who has spent time in English society recognizes this.
A friend of mine recounted his experience in England. He had been dating an English woman, and was out to dinner at a “posh” restaurant. They finished the delicious meal and the extraordinary wine. As they were preparing to leave, one of the attendees, a medical doctor, took the salt cellar and poured salt into the final half-finished bottle of extraordinarily good wine. Why? To prevent the staff from enjoying a glass in the kitchen after cleaning up.
Diversity stop the corruption which is what is at the basis of absolute power.
Refer Rome under Nero.
Which is what the West’s NWO was heading to.
Historic speech by Vlad.
For those with a short memory, compare an outgoing Obama’s (who bombed 7 Arab/Muslim countries in 8 years without Congressional approval & none of which were at war with the US) words to Putin
[quote] “The United States has exclusive rights to anywhere in the world” (which Putin complained about) [emphasis mine]
with this speech by President Putin!
Far more than just chalk and cheese – they’re world’s apart!
Reference for citation, please
As I have said, “no one is gonna decide where we must bomb, no one.
If we wanna bomb, we bomb, where we want it, when we want it, and where we want it. And nobody can do a fokking damn sh.t about it, and you know it”!
Putin is a man of compassion and intelligence who has based his career on the principle that morality is the first obligation of statesmanship. By contrast the US is a cesspool of corruption, perversion, and violence.
And rampant pedophilia as well!
The western media is crowing about Snake Island and the NATO propaganda summit.
But Russia is doing what it did during the Winter Olympics…not crowding the media as China celebrated.
Well Hong Kong anniversary, Russia has slowed down as Xi celebrates again…then its back to business.
This is probably one of Russian military deception, pretend to be weak, lure enemy to battlefield of your own choosing and destroy him.
“I am confident that, by consistently following international law and joining our efforts, it is possible to resolve the most difficult problems that the world is facing and to provide for the stable, sustainable and progressive development of all states.”
Beats the hell out of the US constantly jamming their authority down our throats, do this or we will sanction the hell out of you.
As always , Vladimir Putin has expressed in a clear and straightforward way the aspirations of not only the people of Russia, but of all the people around the world who long for justice and self determination.
Truly a great statesman.
Russian President Putin is saying a lot about the direction of things to come for Kiev. That part of his statement surprised me. Calling that bunch war criminals in such a flat out manner, to me indicates that those guys are going good bye. He is identifying them as a group of Nazi´s that will be eliminated. Given that in my book, Russia is going to keep going until they are gone. It doesn´t matter how far they have to physically go in Ukraine to get the job done. My take.
I wish well to all.
On the subject of democracy (if I may …) How democratic are some of the other BRICS members, take for example South Africa with more raced-based laws today than during Apartheid. Please, this should not be a controversial thing to say or to ask, that would cause censure, but how does that work? During Apartheid everyone cared, now it doesn’t matter.
So, if anyone can apply any interpretation of what democracy is according to when it is convenient or politically expedient then what is the point of talking about democracy or making comparisons, because the concept loses value. This is an honest question, I hope someone can assist.
Kind regards
From South Africa
“Russia is open to dialogue on ensuring strategic stability, preserving agreements on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and improving the situation in arms control. We are focused on joining efforts on crucial issues like the climate agenda, fighting famine, providing stability in food and energy markets, and fair rules in international trade and competition.”
Putin: Address to participants of 10th St Petersburg International Legal Forum
June 30, 2022
You have to know the real rules to talk like this.
“It is true, a multipolar system of international relations is now being formed. It is an irreversible process; it is happening before our eyes and is objective in nature. The position of Russia and many other countries is that this democratic, more just world order should be built on the basis of mutual respect and trust, and, of course, on the generally accepted principles of international law and the UN Charter.”
“WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND FOR THESE ENDS
to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,”
UN CHARTER
Putin’s background was legal, as a lawyer.