The former Russian president also called for colonialism to be recognized as a crime against humanity
Russia will support African nations seeking reparations from former colonial powers, deputy chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has said, arguing that Western states should be held accountable for centuries of colonial exploitation.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum on Wednesday, the former Russian president said African Union members, along with Caribbean nations, are spearheading efforts to seek compensation for the legacy of colonialism.
“We [Russia] are ready to actively support their endeavors to demand reparations and compensation from their former colonial powers,” Medvedev stated.
He said Western countries have the capacity to provide reparations for the “colossal damage” caused by centuries of colonial and neo-colonial practices.
Medvedev argued that securing equal access to economic opportunities, natural resources, and decision-making is essential to achieving genuine sovereignty for countries across the Global South. He also dismissed legal arguments frequently raised by Western governments against reparations.
“The former colonial powers have neither legal nor moral grounds to evade reparations justice,” Medvedev noted, adding that fundamental legal principles prevent wrongdoing from becoming a legitimate source of rights.
The former Russian president also called for colonialism to be formally recognized as a separate crime against humanity under international law, suggesting this provision could be incorporated into the future UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity. According to Medvedev, such a move would establish international responsibility for the exploitation and enslavement of colonized peoples.
The issue of reparations has gained international attention in recent months. Last week, Ghana hosted a global conference on reparatory justice, bringing together leaders from Africa and more than 80 countries to discuss compensation, the return of cultural artifacts, formal apologies, and other measures addressing the legacy of slavery and colonialism.
The meeting followed a Ghana-led UN General Assembly resolution adopted on March 25, which recognized the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.” The measure secured support from 123 countries, including Russia and China, while the US, Israel, and Argentina voted against the resolution, and the UK and all the EU states abstained.
