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Russia slams freedom of expression ‘fears’ as mask for those against anti-Nazi UN motion

The ministry recalled that this resolution had been passed in New York at a plenary meeting of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly at the initiative of the Russian delegation

© AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. The countries that voted against the UN resolution condemning the glorification of Nazism are trying to hide behind their alleged ‘concerns’ about freedom of expression, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The ministry recalled that this resolution had been passed in New York at a plenary meeting of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly at the initiative of the Russian delegation.

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"An impressive majority of states, 133 voted in favor of this resolution. Just as in previous years, the US and Ukrainian delegations voted against it, while 49 countries, including EU member-states, abstained," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted. "The position of some countries, which did not support the resolution, citing concern for freedom of expression as an excuse is regrettable."

The ministry also focused on the growing relevance of the issues raised in the document. "One of the key elements of the resolution is the condemnation of some countries’ open ‘war’ on monuments dedicated to those who fought Nazism and regular marches conducted in honor of Nazis and their collaborators, as well as nationalists’ torchlight processions," the ministry stressed.

"The broad support for Russia’s initiative and the number of its co-authors, which is growing annually, confirm the importance of preserving the historical memories of the horrors that World War II had brought on humanity, and of those who lost their lives for the sake of Victory amid the fight against the glorification of Nazism and neo-Nazism," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

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