Moscow, November 3, 2025 – The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today clarifying its decision to abstain from voting on a draft resolution concerning the Western Sahara during the recent United Nations Security Council session.
The Ministry stated that Russia, along with China and Pakistan, abstained from voting on Resolution 2797, drafted by the United States, which extends the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for one year.
Specifically, the Russian Foreign Ministry attributed Moscow’s abstention to the fact that “the process of coordinating the draft resolution lacked transparency and proceeded at an unnecessarily rapid pace, preventing the consideration of all proposed amendments.”
The statement emphasized the importance of extending MINURSO’s mandate for a year, noting that its activities contribute to stability in the Western Sahara and the broader Sahel-Saharan region. Russia also welcomed the inclusion in the resolution of a reaffirmation of the need to reach a mutually acceptable political settlement.
Furthermore, the Russian Foreign Ministry affirmed that the implementation of the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination, in accordance with previous Security Council resolutions and within the framework of procedures consistent with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, remains a fundamental and highly important issue for Russia.
Russia expressed its hope that the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, with the support of MINURSO, will continue his active efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara issue.
Russia affirmed that it will continue, through its contacts with all relevant parties, to actively and effectively support this path.
