Masadykov: Rule of force replaced rule of law

MINSK, 7 April (BelTA) – The rule of force has replaced the rule of international law, but this should not be the case, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Taalatbek Masadykov said in an interview with the First News TV Channel on 6 April, BelTA has learned.

“Unfortunately, 2026 showed, not only for our CSTO member states but for the entire world, that international law has stopped functioning, and what operates now is the rule of force. I believe these times must pass. Common sense among world leaders will prevail not only on our vast Eurasian continent, but also in Africa and the Americas, and people will understand that they must sit down and talk, because there is no other solution,” Taalatbek Masadykov said.

In his view, those who profit financially from conflicts are often the ones most interested in igniting them. “The kidnapping of a president, an attack on a country under various pretexts is certainly a violation of international law. We must state this clearly. Every country has its own truth, its own reasons, but for that very reason we must sit down and talk as often as possible. In any case, I believe that violating international legal norms is unacceptable. And sooner or later we must reach a point where the world moves away from double standards and adheres to these norms together,” the secretary general emphasized.