Russia loses its seat on the UN Human Rights Council, but wins support

by time news

It’s a symbolic victory, but a real victory for Ukraine, and its most active supporters on the international scene. This Thursday, April 7, the UN General Assembly suspended Russia from its seat on the UN Human Rights Council due to the invasion of Ukraine. Following the vote, the Kyiv authorities said they were “grateful”. This vote took place a few days after the discovery of atrocities committed against civilian populations in the kyiv region, in particular in the locality of Boucha, following the withdrawal of Russian forces.

→ EXPLANATION. War in Ukraine: what is the use of the UN Human Rights Council from which Russia has been excluded?

However, beyond this diplomatic victory, the analysis of the vote reveals an erosion of the broad support shown within the UN for Ukraine during the very first weeks of the Russian invasion. Of the 193 member countries of the General Assembly, this suspension proposal initiated by the United States was certainly approved by 93 countries, but 24 voted against and 58 countries abstained.

Among the states that opposed it is China, which has been trying since the start of the war to maintain a position of neutrality. Beijing, which is regularly singled out for the fate reserved for the Uyghur minority in China, judged this decision “hasty” and denounced a “dangerous precedent”.

India and several African countries abstain

Another country closely scrutinized because of its weight on the international scene, India has taken refuge in abstention. New Delhi and Moscow maintain important strategic relations: Russia represents half of India’s arms imports. Under strong pressure from the Kremlin, several African countries also abstained, notably Senegal and South Africa.

While Washington welcomed the UN decision, which “increases isolation” of Russia on the international scene, the Kremlin will not fail to take stock and compare this vote with the precedents which took place within the bodies of the UN. On March 2, 2022, during a first historic vote, 141 countries had condemned the invasion launched by Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, only 5 countries voting against (in addition to Russia, Belarus, the Syria, North Korea and Eritrea), 35 abstaining. Then, on March 24, the General Assembly called for unimpeded humanitarian access and the protection of civilians in Ukraine. During the ballot, 140 countries voted for, five against (the same five as on March 2) and 38 countries abstained.

→ REREAD. War in Ukraine: India’s big gap between Russia and the United States

While regretting the loss of its seat on the Human Rights Council, responsible for promoting human rights, Moscow expressed its determination to “continue to defend its interests by all legal means”.

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