More information on Russia’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from its seat on the UN Human Rights Council over the invasion of Ukraine, in a vote that garnered 93 favorable votes and reflects an erosion of international unity against Moscow.
Ukraine, a current member of the Council, declared that it was “grateful” of the decision affirming that “War criminals have no place in the UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights”reacted to Twitter Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. For its part, the Kremlin regretted this resolution. “We are sorry for this and we will continue to defend our interests by all legal means and to explain ourselves”said Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, on the British channel Sky News.
Of the 193 member countries of the General Assembly, 24 voted against this suspension – the second in the history of the UN after the ousting of Libya in 2011 -, initiated by the United States. 58 countries abstained, but the abstentions, a choice denounced by kyiv, were not taken into account in the two-thirds majority required among the only votes for and against.
Among the countries that voted against is China, which denounced a “hasty move”setting “fuel on the fire” and a “dangerous precedent”. Iran, Kazakhstan and Cuba also voted against. Unsurprisingly, Russia, Belarus and Syria opposed the proposed resolution on ballot.
Despite pressure from Moscow in recent days for countries to vote against, several African states, including South Africa and Senegal, have chosen to abstain, judging that the resolution suspending Moscow “prejudges the results of the commission of inquiry” created in early March by the Human Rights Council.
Brazil, like Mexico and India, all three currently non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, has adopted the same abstentionist position. Chile, on the other hand, voted in favour. According to Washington, Russia’s suspension from the Geneva-based Human Rights Council is much more symbolic and increases “isolation” of Moscow on the international scene.
Moscow has been an intermittent member of the Council since 2006 because only two terms in a row are allowed for its members. His current term expires in 2023.