Russia’s Lavrov criticizes West at UN General Assembly

World Today

Russian FM Sergei LavrovNEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 24: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks at a Security Council meeting on global terrorism during the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2014 in New York City. World leaders, activists and protesters have converged on New York City for the annual UN event that brings together the global leaders for a week of meetings and conferences. Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

When Russia took it’s place at the podium at the General Assembly, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivered a scathing rebuke against the U.S. and the European Union over their handling of conflicts, particularly in Ukraine. CCTV America’s Liling Tan reports from the U.N. in New York.

Speaking to more than a hundred world leaders on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at criticism over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine conflict, calling the U.S. and the European Union out for what he said were their double standards.

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“The U.S.-led Western alliance that portrays itself as a champion of democracy, rule of law and human rights within individual countries, acts from directly opposite positions in the international arena, rejecting the democratic principle of sovereign equality of states enshrined the UN Charter and trying to decide for everyone what is good or evil.”- Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister

Lavrov maintained the people of Crimea had every right to take their destiny into their own hands in seeking autonomy from Kiev, but he said attempts to distort the truth and to hide the facts behind blanket accusations have been undertaken at all stages of the Ukrainian crisis.