Russia was suspended on Thursday as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Among the 193 members of the UN General Assembly, 93 countries participated in the emergency session focused on the war in Ukraine and voted in favor of the measure. This marks the first time a country has been expelled from the council since 2011, when Libya faced a similar action. A majority of two-thirds of the votes cast was required, and 24 countries opposed the expulsion of the Russian Federation, including China. Fifty-eight abstained, and 18 did not vote.
The move to expel Russia stemmed from what the United States described as ongoing and flagrant violations of human rights, highlighted by the weekend brutality in Bucha and other Ukrainian towns following the withdrawal of Russian forces. While the result of the vote was anticipated in some circles, delegates watched certain outcomes closely. Notably, China opposed the resolution rather than abstaining, a stance that signaled stronger international condemnation compared with past votes when broad coalitions formed against Russia.
Russian threats
Before the UN session, the Russian delegation circulated a message to other diplomatic missions, obtained by Reuters, warning that consequences would follow not only for states voting in favor of the suspension but also for those abstaining or voting against it. The text warned that a neutral or equidistant stance would be treated as a hostile gesture, and that a country’s position could influence bilateral relations and cooperation within the UN framework.
The Thursday session, held on Memorial Day in remembrance of the genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda, was opened by Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsia, who urged a vote in favor of the suspension. He warned that merely pressing a button could have serious consequences, describing the red indicator on the screen as a stark symbol of bloodshed.
Kislytsia also cited the words of Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, emphasizing that indifference was not an acceptable response. He argued that friendship with the aggressor does nothing to help the victim, and the pain grows when the world feels forgotten.
Russia, in its response, denounced the proposal as an attempt by Western countries and their allies to undermine the existing human rights architecture. It rejected what it called baseless accusations, speaking through a representative at the UN who did not hold the position of ambassador Vasily Nebenzia.
China’s stance
China called for an investigation into the alleged atrocities and noted its vote against the resolution. A Chinese representative criticized the decision as being made rapidly and without consultation, warning that adopting such measures could escalate tensions and set a dangerous precedent. Beijing warned that Russia’s expulsion would intensify the conflict in the realm of human rights and potentially affect the UN’s governance and the functioning of its organs.
Other countries voting against deportation included Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, North Korea, and Iran. The Tehran representative described the expulsion as politically motivated. Cuba raised concerns about perceived irony, suggesting that the United States had previously opposed the very organization that now seeks to enforce one of its most controversial articles for convenience. The United States had opposed the creation of the Human Rights Council in the first place and argued for a vote against the council itself as a result.