Russia Suspended From UN Human Rights Council After Abuses In Ukraine

Following the attacks by Russian troops on Ukraine, the United Nations General Assembly has suspended Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council. The suspension comes over reports of "gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" in Ukraine.

Unites Nations' suspension decision has prompted Moscow to announce it was quitting the body.

reuters

The U.S.-led push garnered 93 votes in favor, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained.

How many votes were needed for Russia's suspension?

A two-thirds majority of voting members in the 193-member General Assembly in New York - abstentions do not count - was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

Reuters

After the vote, Russia's deputy U.N. Ambassador Gennady Kuzmin called the move an "illegitimate and politically motivated step" and later announced that Russia had decided to quit the Human Rights Council altogether.

Reuters

"You do not submit your resignation after you are fired," Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters. Russia was in the second year of a three-year term.

After Thursday's resolution, the General Assembly may have agreed to end the suspension, but it isn't possible since Russia has quit the council. This is similar to what the United States did in 2018 over what it called 'chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform.

AP photo

To jog your memory, the United States was re-elected last year to the council.

Even though such suspensions are rare, Libya was suspended in 2011 because of violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United Nations "sent a clear message that the suffering of victims and survivors will not be ignored."

"We ensured a persistent and egregious human rights violator will not be allowed to occupy a position of leadership on human rights at the U.N.," she said in remarks that will later be delivered to the General Assembly later on Thursday.

The Human Rights Council cannot make legally binding decisions, but they aim to send important political messages and can authorize investigations.

AP

Last month the council opened an investigation into allegations of rights violations, including possible 'war crimes' in Ukraine. This resolution counts as the third adopted by the 193-member General Assembly since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24.

The two previous General Assembly resolutions denouncing Russia were adopted with 141 and 140 votes in favor.

Belarus, China, Iran, Russia, and Syria were among the U.N. members that voted against the resolution. However, India abstained from voting.

After being on the fence about the previous two General Assembly votes, Russia's partner China opposed the resolution on Thursday.

Just before the vote, China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said, "Such a hasty move at the General Assembly, which forces countries to choose sides, will aggravate the division among member states and intensify the confrontation between the parties concerned - it is like adding fuel to the fire."

On Thursday, the General Assembly text expresses "grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine," particularly at reports of rights abuses by Russia.

Reuters

Russia continues to stay on the stance that they are carrying out a "special military operation" that aims to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure and denies attacking civilians.

Contrary to the claims by Russia, Ukraine and allies say Moscow 'invaded without provocation'.

(With agency inputs)

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