Russia not to attend “provocative meeting” on Crimea at UN Security Council

Moscow will not be attending today’s UN Security Council meeting on Crimea, Russia’s Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement.

"We believe that this event is counterproductive and provocative. This does not fall under the tasks of the UN Security Council. The Russian delegation will not take part in [the meeting] neither will the delegations of some other countries do," the Russian Mission’s press release says.

The meeting will be held behind the closed doors at the behest of Lithuania. Mustafa Dzhemilev, Ukrainian MP and former leader of the Crimean Tatar community – who was banned from Crimea yet in 2014 for his anti-Russian statements - is expected to attend the event.