Russia defends Trump from UN critic

Russia’s government lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations over a top official’s condemnation of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, according to a Friday report.

Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., issued a verbal “demarche” to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a private meeting on Sept. 13 over comments from Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the high commissioner of human rights, The Associated Press said Friday.

{mosads}Zeid branded Trump and several European leaders as “demagogues” during a speech on Sept. 6, saying they share similarities with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

“All seek in varying degrees to recover a past, halcyon and pure in form, where sunlit fields are settled by peoples united by ethnicity or religion — living peacefully in isolation, pilots of their fate, free of crime, foreign influence and war,” Zeid said at the Hague.

The AP confirmed the exchange with three diplomats speaking on the condition of anonymity due to Russia’s status within the U.N. Russia is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, giving it vast power in the international diplomacy organization.

The news service added there is no evidence Trump sought Russia’s assistance or knew of Zeid’s criticism.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has frequently accused Trump of being too friendly with Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin.

Trump on Wednesday downplayed his admiration for Putin, vowing he neither has “love” nor “hate” for him.