The US will ask the UN General Assembly to remove Russia from the Human Rights Council, US Permanent Representative to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Monday.
This statement came after Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing dozens of civilians in the city of Bucha. Recall that Russia has been a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the second year. The general term of membership of the Geneva-based council is three years.
By a two-thirds majority vote, the General Assembly, which consists of 193 member countries, can exclude a country from the council for systematic and gross violations of human rights during its membership.
Speaking in Bucharest on Monday, Linda Thomas-Greenfield stressed that "Russia's participation in the Human Rights Council is a farce."
“Therefore,” she continued, “we believe it is high time for the UN General Assembly to vote for its exclusion.”
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the UN General Assembly has passed two resolutions condemning Russia with at least 140 yes votes.
“My message to the 140 countries that courageously united is this: the images from Bucha and the devastation across Ukraine require that we now match our words with action,” said Thomas-Greenfield, who is visiting Romania. Its purpose is, in particular, the need to find out whether this country is coping with the influx of refugees from Ukraine.
Of the approximately 300 dead bodies found in the city after the withdrawal of Russian troops, about 50 were victims of extrajudicial killings by the Russian military, according to city officials in Bucha.
Reuters was unable to independently verify who was responsible for the killings of the city's residents.
Ukrainian authorities say they are investigating possible war crimes.
French President Emmanuel Macron also used this wording.
