Russia’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council has been suspended. According to Poland’s representative to the UN, Krzysztof Szczerski, “the UN General Assembly has taken a historic decision.”
Among others, Russia, China, Iran, Cuba and Syria voted against the resolution. Among the 93 countries that supported the project were Western countries, Israel, Turkey and most Latin American countries. India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia were among the countries that abstained. A two-thirds vote was required for a decision to be made.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield called for the adoption of the document. She argued that Russia’s membership in a body whose purpose is to promote respect for human rights would be not only hypocritical but also dangerous. Ukrainian Ambassador Serhiy Kisilika compared the Human Rights Council to the Titanic, and the vote to exclude Russia saved that UN body from destruction.
“Russia has clearly failed as a member of the UN”
In a speech justifying Poland’s support for the resolution to expel Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski said that Russia had clearly failed as a member of this group and that the Russian attack and the crimes committed in Ukraine violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The Polish diplomat argued that while the suspension of one of the members of the Council was unprecedented, Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of a neighboring country and deliberate attacks on civilians justified such a move.
This is the first time such a fate has befallen a permanent member of the UN Security Council. “The UN General Assembly has taken a historic decision,” wrote Krzysztof Szczerski on Twitter.