The United Nations (UN) has voted to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield introduced the proposal earlier in the week following allegations that Russian troops tortured and killed Ukrainian civilians in Bucha, a suburb near Kiev.
The bodies were found after Russian troops withdrew from the city last weekend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as a genocide and accused Russia of committing war crimes.
The draft resolution indicates the General Assembly may suspend membership rights in the Human Rights Council for members who commit serious and systematic human rights violations.
Additionally, the council has major concerns over reports of human rights violations and abuses and non-compliance with humanitarian law referring to Russia’s aggression on Ukraine.
The resolution was passed by a vote of 83 in favor, 24 against and 58 abstentions. Belarus, China, Iran, Russia and Syria were among the UN members who voted against the resolution. India, meanwhile, abstained from voting.
Members of the UN Human Rights Council, are responsible for upholding high human rights standards under which they will serve for a term of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
Libya is the only suspended country of the 47 members of the Geneva-based council. It was suspended in 2011 after crackdowns on protesters by troops loyal to the then leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
