Russian Ambassador Deflects to Pavlova, Denies War Crimes

At a time when the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian officials, New Zealand's newest diplomatic arrival would prefer to discuss dessert. Russian Ambassador Krans, speaking during a 45-minute interview, repeatedly steered conversation toward the centenary of Anna Pavlova's tour of New Zealand and the subsequent invention of the pavlova cake, rather than addressing Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

It was a striking performance. When confronted with questions about alleged war crimes, the ambassador paused, corrected himself, and ultimately declared:

There is no war crime there.

The Pavlova Pivot

Krans was keen to highlight cultural connections between Russia and New Zealand, noting the centenary of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova's tour.

And after that New Zealanders invented the cake,

he said, a claim that would certainly raise eyebrows across the Tasman. The diplomatic charm offensive, however, struggled to gain traction against the weight of more pressing matters.

The ambassador acknowledged that Ukraine would dominate questions, telling reporters:

I know that Ukraine will be the most interesting thing you would like to hear from me... but we should make it more understandable for New Zealanders that Russia is not only the conflict in Europe.

Diplomatic Isolation and Sanctions

The reality of Krans's posting is stark. Contact has been broken off at the political level, meaning he is unlikely to secure a proper meeting with Foreign Minister Winston Peters during his unspecified tenure. Walking through the embassy, Krans noted the large dining room had not hosted New Zealand politicians for some time, a quiet testament to the diplomatic freeze.

Krans viewed New Zealand's economic sanctions on Russia as unlawful and expressed displeasure with reciprocal travel bans. In 2024, the journalist conducting this interview was among those hit with a Russian travel ban, adding a layer of dark irony to the Discover Moscow brochure the ambassador handed over during the interview.

Denying the Undeniable

The most troubling moments came when Krans addressed war crimes. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over the alleged unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. Warrants also exist for former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and senior general Valery Gerasimov, relating to alleged attacks on civilian objects and excessive harm to civilians.

Krans's response was measured but ultimately dismissive. He argued that war crimes cannot be applied in this context, stating that during military conflict

it is very difficult to avoid any casualties.

He claimed Russia has internal mechanisms, including military police and courts, to punish rule violators. When Russia alleges war crimes by Ukraine, he added,

nobody believes us.

The World Justice Project's rule of law scores tell their own story. New Zealand scores 83. Russia scores 43. The gap between those numbers speaks volumes about the credibility of internal accountability mechanisms.

The Spy Question

New Zealand's intelligence agencies have identified Russia, alongside China and Iran, as actors involved in covert or deceptive activity aimed at influencing discussions and gaining access to technology and information. The NZSIS threat assessment noted several states undertake foreign interference in New Zealand, though it only publicly named China.

When asked whether the embassy's public outreach constituted foreign interference, Krans leaned forward and asked:

Do you feel any interference in your affairs from us?

On the matter of spying, Krans cited a former Prime Minister's claim that there were no Russian spies in New Zealand. He could not recall which Prime Minister made the remark, but the comments mirror those made by Dame Jacinda Ardern. Security analyst Paul Buchanan later described that statement as threatening to make New Zealand a laughing stock. Peters subsequently clarified there was Russian intelligence activity in the country, but no one fitted the legal definition of a spy that would warrant expulsion.

An Internal Matter?

Perhaps most controversially, Krans described Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an internal matter.

We do not interfere in your internal affairs. That is your own decision what to do within your state,

he said, adding:

Whatever is your assessment of what is in this conflict, our position has nothing to do with New Zealand.

Calling an invasion that has displaced millions and triggered ICC arrest warrants an internal matter is a significant diplomatic claim. The Council of Europe has established a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. While the International Court of Justice did not accept jurisdiction on the legality question, the international community has largely rejected the framing of this conflict as anything other than an unprovoked act of aggression.

For a nation that prides itself on standing up for human rights and the international rules-based order, Krans's positions present a clear challenge. New Zealand's values, from pragmatic ecology to social liberalism, rest on assumptions about the rule of law that simply do not apply in the world he describes. The pavlova, it seems, can only paper over so much.