Russia Expelled From Danube Commission And Fined

• 2.03.2024, 5:00

This is a historic decision.

As of March 1, the member countries of the Danube Commission no longer recognize their obligations to Russia under the founding Belgrade Convention. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.

Until February 29, Russia could have left the Commission on its own, but did not do so. In addition, for the first time in history, the Commission imposed a fine on Russia for non-payment of contributions after it was stripped of its powers in this organization in March 2022.

“I am grateful to the Danube Commission, our Danube partners and everyone who helped make this historic decision. Aggressors and terrorists have no place in any authoritative international forums,” concluded Dmytro Kuleba.

The Danube Commission is an international intergovernmental organization founded by the Convention on the Regime of Navigation on the Danube, which was signed in Belgrade on August 18, 1948. Its main goals are: the development of free navigation on the Danube for merchant ships, economic and cultural ties, and the like. The Commission includes Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Croatia.