The US-led push garnered 93 votes in favor, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained
\n UNITED NATIONS
\nThe United Nations General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of \u201cgross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights\u201d by invading Russian troops in Ukraine.
\nThe US-led push garnered 93 votes in favor, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained. A two-thirds majority of voting members \u2014 abstentions do not count \u2014 was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member council. Suspensions are rare. Libya was suspended in 2011 because of violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Qaddafi.
\nThe resolution adopted by the 193-member General Assembly draft expresses \u201cgrave concern at the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,\u201d particularly at reports of rights abuses by Russia.
\nRussia had warned countries that a yes vote or abstention will be viewed as an \u201cunfriendly gesture\u201d with consequences for bilateral ties, according to a note seen by Reuters.
\nRussia was in its second year of a three-year term on the Geneva-based council, which cannot make legally binding decisions. Its decisions send important political messages, however, and it can authorize investigations.
\nMoscow is one of the most vocal members on the council and its suspension bars it from speaking and voting, officials say, although its diplomats could still attend debates. \u201cThey would probably still try to influence the Council through proxies,\u201d said a Geneva-based diplomat.
\nLast month the council opened an investigation into allegations of rights violations, including possible war crimes, in Ukraine since Russia\u2019s attack.
\nSince Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, the General Assembly has adopted two resolutions denouncing Russia with 141 and 140 votes in favor. Moscow says it is carrying out a \u201cspecial operation\u201d to demilitarize Ukraine.
\nThe United States announced it would seek Russia\u2019s suspension after Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha.
\nRussia denies attacking civilians in Ukraine. UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday that while Bucha was under Russian control \u201cnot a single civilian suffered from any kind of violence.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The US-led push garnered 93 votes in favor, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained UNITED NATIONS The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of \u201cgross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights\u201d by invading Russian troops in Ukraine. The US-led push […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":253621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[883,338,456,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-253597","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-human-rights","9":"tag-russia","10":"tag-ukraine","11":"tag-un"},"yoast_head":"\n