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• The resolution receives the needed two-thirds majority of UNGA voting members
• Russia is the first permanent member of the UN Security Council whose membership is canceled by any UN body
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council after the world condemns crimes perpetrated by Russian forces during the war in Ukraine.
The resolution, which the United States proposed, received the needed two-thirds majority of UNGA voting members on Thursday, with 93 votes in favor and 24 votes against. A total of 58 countries abstained, but their votes were not counted in the final result.
The brief resolution expressed “grave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, particularly at the reports of violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law by the Russian Federation, including gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights”.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield proposed the resolution earlier this week, following allegations that Russian forces tortured and killed Ukrainian residents in Bucha, a neighborhood near Kyiv.
Russia is the first permanent member of the UN Security Council whose membership has been canceled by any UN body.
It is also just the second country to have its human rights council membership privileges revoked since its inception in 2006. Libya was suspended by the assembly in 2011 after Muammar Gaddafi, the country’s long-time leader was overthrown.
“War criminals have no place in UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights. Grateful to all member states which supported the relevant UNGA resolution and chose the right side of history,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.
According to a note seen by Reuters, Russia has said nations that are voting yes or abstaining to remove Moscow from the Human Rights Council will be perceived as an “unfriendly gesture” with ramifications for bilateral ties.
Picture Credits: Reuters