MOSCOW (Realist English). Russia has set out its expectations for the next United Nations Secretary-General, emphasizing strict adherence to the UN Charter, impartiality and a restoration of what it calls the organization’s intergovernmental character.
In an interview with TASS, Kirill Logvinov, Director of the Department of International Organizations at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said Moscow is closely monitoring potential candidates and assessing their positions on key global issues and UN reform efforts.
“We proceed from the understanding that the future UN Secretary-General must strictly follow the Charter of the organization, approach its principles in good faith and without selectivity, and refrain from diluting the intergovernmental nature of the UN or violating the division of labor among its main organs,” Logvinov said.
He argued that restoring the prestige and standing of the UN requires correcting what he described as an imbalance within the Secretariat. According to Logvinov, senior posts in recent years have been dominated by representatives of Western countries or officials holding dual Western citizenship. He said staff appointments should be made on the broadest possible geographical basis, as stipulated in Article 101 of the UN Charter.
Moscow also intends to pay particular attention to candidates’ positions on the conflict in Ukraine. Logvinov said Russia expects the next head of the Secretariat to take its concerns into account, including what it calls the “root causes” of the crisis as a prerequisite for a lasting settlement.
He added that Russia would approach the selection process “with maximum rigor,” evaluating candidates based on their professional background, stated intentions and alignment with issues on the UN agenda.
According to Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, hearings with candidates are expected to begin in late April, with the selection process scheduled for the end of July 2026. The current Secretary-General, António Guterres, is due to complete his term on December 31, 2026.
Under UN procedures, the Secretary-General is appointed by the Security Council and confirmed by the General Assembly for a five-year term, with the possibility of reappointment. While there is no formal limit on the number of terms, no Secretary-General has served more than ten years. By longstanding practice, candidates are not selected from among the permanent members of the Security Council — Russia, the United Kingdom, China, the United States and France.
