U.S. pushes to suspend Russia from U.N. human rights body

U.S. pushes to suspend Russia from U.N. human rights body. 

After Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing dozens of people in the town of Bucha, the US ambassador to the United Nations stated on Monday that the US will petition the United Nations General Assembly to expel Russia from the Human Rights Council.

The 193-member assembly can suspend a state in New York if it consistently commits grave and systematic abuses of human rights.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “Russia’s participation in the Human Rights Council is a farce on a visit to Romania.”

“And it’s wrong, so we feel the UN General Assembly should vote to have them removed.”

Ukraine has stated that it will collect proof of Russia’s crimes in the nation using all “possible UN procedures.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated, “Russia has no place in the UN Human Rights Council.”

Thomas-Greenfield stated that she wants the vote to take place this week.

Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Assembly has passed two resolutions condemning Russia, both with 140 votes in favor. Russia claims to be conducting a “special operation” to demilitarise Ukraine.

“My message to those 140 countries who have bravely stood together is that the images coming out of Bucha and the devastation in Ukraine demand that we now match our words with action,” Thomas-Greenfield told reporters during a visit to Romania.

In New York, a visibly enraged Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s UN envoy, branded the attempt to ban Russia from the council “unbelievable,” adding that it would be detrimental to peace talks.

“This is unusual,” Nebenzia said at a news conference, “and it will not facilitate, encourage, or help what is happening between Russia and the Ukrainian peace talks.”

He reiterated Russian denials of the allegations of atrocities in Bucha, claiming that the video evidence was “fabricated.” He stated that Russia would submit more information on the subject at Tuesday’s United Nations Security Council meeting.

According to Bucha’s deputy mayor, around 50 remains discovered after Russian forces retreated were the victims of extrajudicial killings by Russian troops. find out more

Reuters was unable to verify who was responsible for the murders in Bucha independently.

Authorities in Ukraine claimed they were looking into alleged war crimes. However, the Kremlin has denied any involvement in killing citizens in the town.

Russia is in the second year of a three-year term on the 47-member council. It cannot make legally binding decisions but can authorize investigations and send solid political statements.

Last month, it launched a probe into allegations of human rights breaches in Ukraine, including possible war crimes, since Russia’s incursion. 

The resolution, proposed by Ukraine, received 32 votes in favor. Russia and Eritrea voted no, while 13 countries abstained, including China.

The US has claimed that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine and that US experts are compiling evidence to back up this claim.

A country has already been suspended from the council by the General Assembly. 

For example, Libya was unanimously suspended in March 2011 due to violence by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi against protesters.