Savchenko calls for Russia to be stripped of veto powers at UN

Ukrainian Air Force pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who is imprisoned in Russia, has urged the international community to "strip" Russia of its veto right at the United Nations Security Council.

In a letter written by Savchenko, and read at the UN session in New York by her sister Vera on September 29, she wrote she believed Russia had "inherited" its slot at the UN Security Council, along with its veto right, from the Soviet Union.

“Russia is exercising the inherited right to block the judicial investigation of its crimes, which are just as bad as those Nazi leaders were convicted for,” read the letter. “It will exercise it over and over again, if we do not stop it. 

“It should be stripped of this right.”

The letter was read at the UN Council of Women World Leaders, which is headed by Lithuanian President, Dalia Grybauskaite. 

Savchenko’s also outlined the attempts of Kremlin-controlled media to persuade Russian citizens that Russia single-handedly defeated Fascism during World War II.

”It is again alone try to appearing as the defender of the truth and the good, while the rest of the world and the United States are attempting to distort it."

The Ukrainian pilot emphasised the USSR’s allies were also pivotal in defeating Nazism 70 years ago.

In a clear rebuke to Kremlin policies, Savchenko added: “If nations today aren't as strong and united with regard to the contemporary aggressor, then in World War Three, they may have to fight against Russism, not fascism.

Hosted by Grybauskaite, the informal high-level discussion on the women's rights in countries marred by armed conflicts included Georgiam President, Georgi Margvelashvili, Croatian President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, and former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright.

A video greeting was received from U.S. Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton.