The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, April 7, suspended Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council after getting reports of atrocities committed by Russian troops during the war in Ukraine and for “systemic violations” in Ukraine.
In all, 93 countries voted in favour of the decision, 24 against, while 58 abstained.
This vote is the two-thirds majority benchmark in which only members who voted, not abstentions, are counted from the 193-member UN General Assembly.
According to the draft, the General Assembly has the authority to “suspend the membership rights of a member of the Human Rights Council who commits severe and systematic infringements of human rights.”
Moreover, the draft resolution adds that the council has “serious concern” regarding reports of “gross and systematic violations, atrocities and abuses of human rights” and “infringements of international humanitarian law” committed by Russia during the invasion of Ukraine.
Following the decision, Russia’s deputy United Nations ambassador, Gennady Kuzmin, called the move “illegitimate and politically motivated” and stated that Russia would quit the Human Rights Council altogether.
Georgia, along with 92 other nations, voted in favour of Russia’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday.
The UN General Assembly voted to exclude Russia from the human rights body after accusations of “gross and systematic infringement and abuses of human rights” by Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
Among the countries that stood with Ukraine to support the resolution were the U.S., European Union countries, the U.K, Ukraine, Georgia, etc.
China, Syria, and Belarus were among the countries that voted against it.
Russia stated that they are conducting a “special military operation” to destroy Ukraine’s military infrastructure while rejecting striking civilians. Ukraine and its partners claim that Moscow invaded without any warning.
According to a note seen by a news agency, Russia had warned countries that a yes vote or abstention would be perceived as an “unfriendly gesture” with consequences for bilateral ties.
