In the interview with Obieqtivi TV’s Russian-language program “Nedelya” (Week) on March 3, 2020, Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi, leader of the pro-Russian Alliance of Patriots party, said that upon initiative of one of the Scandinavian countries, the UN Security Council allegedly dedicated five hours of its session to discussing the issue of optimal number of women and men in a family, while discussions on the Ukrainian crisis lasted only 40 minutes.
Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi, Alliance of Patriots: “Discussions on the Ukrainian crisis lasted only 40 minutes at one of the sessions of the UN Security Council… and upon initiative of one of the Scandinavian countries – I know which, but I will not specify now – they were talking for five hours about the issue that a family should consist of four members – not two or three, but four members – three men and one woman, three women and one man, two men and two women. So, this idiotism was being discussed during five hours, whereas only 40 minutes were allocated for the Ukrainian issue.”
Davit Tarkhan-Mouravi’s statement is not true, because according to the UN Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are to maintain international peace and security. Thus, the Council provides no recommendations on family planning and composition. Moreover, Ukraine’s conflict has been kept high on the Security Council’s agenda since 2014 and the latter has convened 39 times only to discuss Ukraine’s issue.
1. The functions of the UN Security Council do not involve discussions on family issues
According to the UN Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:
- To maintain international peace and security;
- To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
- To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
- To formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
- To determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
- To call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
- To take military action against an aggressor;
- To recommend the admission of new Members;
- To exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in “strategic areas”;
- To recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.
Thus, the UN Security Council’s mandate does not involve the issues of family planning.
2. Ukraine’s issue is kept high on the UN Security Council’s agenda
Since April 2014, the issue of Ukrainian conflict resolution has been constantly discussed by the UN Security Council. The latter has already convened 39 times to discuss this issue. For example, during the recent meeting on February 18, 2020, the Member States focused only on Ukraine’s issue.
Prepared by Ani Kistauri
Regional Network of Myth Detector Lab
