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The United Nations General Assembly suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of ‘gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights’ by invading Russian troops in Ukraine.
The US-proposed resolution to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council received 93 votes, with 24 countries opposed and 58 abstaining at the United Nations’ General Assembly today.
China was the only fellow Security Council member, was a “no” vote. Among the abstentions, the most prominent were India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield had called for Russia to be expelled from the 47-nation body on Monday, calling its participation a “farce,” after videos and photos from the town near Kiev showed dead bodies of what appeared to be civilians. Ukraine and the US accused Russia of a massacre, which Moscow has vehemently denied.
“Russia should not have a position of authority in a body whose purpose – whose very purpose – is to promote respect for human rights. Not only is it the height of hypocrisy – it is dangerous,” Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
“Russia’s participation on the Human Rights Council hurts the Council’s credibility. It undermines the entire UN. And it is just plain wrong,” she added.
