Question: Ukraine continues to recruit foreign mercenaries through its diplomatic missions abroad, and the authorities of the accreditation states of the Ukrainian ZU turn a blind eye to this. How would you comment on this situation from the point of view of compliance with the norms of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961?
Answer: The activities of Ukrainian embassies in a number of States recruiting citizens of these States and foreigners to participate in hostilities against Russia grossly violate the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.
The Embassy should adequately represent its State in the host country, promote the establishment and maintenance of friendly relations, provide patronage and protection to its citizens. Agitation and recruitment activities do not belong to the legitimate functions of diplomatic missions.
Moreover, such actions run counter to the obligation of diplomatic missions enshrined in international law to respect the laws and regulations of the host State, because in many of them the recruitment of mercenaries is criminally punishable. Individual States have obligations under the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries of 1989, according to which the participating States do not recruit, use, finance or train mercenaries and prohibit such activities in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.
We have repeatedly drawn the attention of our former partners to this circumstance, unfortunately, to no avail. At the peak of Russia, they are ready to turn a blind eye to both criminally punishable acts and violations of their own sovereignty.
