Russia rules out Lavrov candidacy for UN secretary-general

Thursday 01 - 22:00

By: Azzat Manal

Russia rules out Lavrov candidacy for UN secretary-general

Russia has no plans to nominate Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for the position of United Nations secretary-general, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who cited an established practice concerning the permanent members of the Security Council.

Speaking at a press briefing, Zakharova said Russia was not considering putting forward Lavrov because the permanent members of the Security Council traditionally do not nominate their own candidates for the UN’s top administrative post.

Zakharova also responded to a question highlighting Lavrov’s long diplomatic experience. She said the description reflected assessments of the Russian foreign minister made by people around the world, while praising what she described as the support Lavrov receives during international diplomatic events.

The question comes as the United Nations moves forward with the selection of its next secretary-general. Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the secretary-general is appointed by the General Assembly following a recommendation from the Security Council. In practice, the permanent members’ agreement is central to the Council’s recommendation because any one of them can block a substantive Council decision with a veto.

The current selection process formally began in late 2025, with member states invited to nominate candidates. The UN’s published list includes candidates such as Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana, Macky Sall of Burundi and Olara Otunnu of Uganda.

The process has included public dialogues with candidates and informal consultations within the Security Council. The General Assembly president handed responsibility for the process to the president of the 81st session in September 2026, as the selection process continued.

Zakharova said Lavrov had also held dozens of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, underscoring his continued role in Russia’s international diplomacy. Russia, however, has not entered his name into the formal UN selection process.