Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, delivers remarks during an emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, at United Nations Headquarters United in New York, New York, U.S., April 7, 2022. REUTERS/ Andrew Kelly

UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Reuters) – The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of “gross and systematic human rights violations and abuses”. Rights” in Ukraine, prompting Moscow to announce it was leaving the body. .

The US-led push garnered 93 votes in favour, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained. A two-thirds majority of voting members of the 193-member General Assembly in New York – abstentions do not count – was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

Speaking after the vote, Russia’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Gennady Kuzmin, described the move as an “illegitimate and politically motivated step”, then announced that Russia had decided to leave the Human Rights Council altogether. the man.

“You don’t submit your resignation after being fired,” Ukraine’s UN ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters.

Russia was in its second year of a three-year term. Under Thursday’s resolution, the General Assembly could have subsequently agreed to end the suspension. But that can’t happen now that Russia has left the council, just like the US did in 2018 because of what it called a chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform.

The United States was re-elected last year to the council. Suspensions are rare. Libya was suspended in 2011 due to violence against protesters by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United Nations “sent a clear message that the suffering of victims and survivors will not be ignored”.

“We ensured that a persistent and flagrant human rights violator would not be allowed to hold a senior human rights position at the UN,” she said in a speech to be delivered Thursday at the General Assembly.

The Human Rights Council cannot make legally binding decisions. Its decisions, however, send important political messages and it can authorize investigations. Last month, the council opened an investigation into allegations of rights abuses, including possible war crimes, in Ukraine.

Thursday’s resolution was the third passed by the 193-member General Assembly since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine on February 24. The two previous General Assembly resolutions denouncing Russia were adopted with 141 and 140 votes in favour.

After abstaining in the two previous General Assembly votes, Russia’s partner China opposed the resolution on Thursday.

“Such a hasty decision in the General Assembly, which forces countries to choose sides, will deepen the division between member states and intensify confrontation between the parties concerned – it is like adding fuel to the fire,” Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said. vote.

Thursday’s General Assembly text expresses “serious concern over the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Ukraine”, particularly over reports of rights abuses by Russia.

Russia says it is carrying out a “special military operation” which aims to destroy Ukraine’s military infrastructure and denies attacking civilians. Ukraine and its allies say Moscow invaded without provocation.

Russia had warned countries that a yes or abstention would be considered a “hostile gesture” with consequences for bilateral relations, according to a note seen by Reuters. Read more

Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva; Editing by Mary Milliken and Alistair Bell

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