UNGA to vote on Russia's Human Rights Council suspension

The United Nations General Assembly will vote on Thursday on a plan to suspend Russia from the U.N. Human Rights CouncilU.N. Human Rights Council over reports of gross and systematic violations of human rights by invading Russian troops in Ukraine.

A two-thirds majority of voting members - abstaining do not count - can suspend a country from the 47-member council. Libya was suspended in 2011 because of the violence against protesters by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

Western diplomats are confident that they have enough support among the 193-member General Assembly to adopt a resolution to suspend Moscow. The draft text expresses concern about the ongoing human rights and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, particularly concerns about reports of rights abuses by Russia.

The move was announced on Monday by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN: "We're not going to allow you to continue to act with impunity and pretend that you respect human rights." Russia has warned countries that a yes vote or abstaining will be seen as an unfriendly gesture with consequences for bilateral ties, according to a note seen by Reuters. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, the Assembly has adopted two resolutions denouncing Russia with 141 and 140 votes in favor. Moscow is carrying out a special operation to demilitarize Ukraine.

The United States announced that it would seek Russia's suspension after Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha. Russia denies attacking civilians in Ukraine. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday that while Bucha was under Russian control, not a single civilian suffered from any kind of violence. Russia is in its second year of a three-year term on the Geneva-based council, which can't make legally binding decisions. Its decisions can be used to authorize investigations, and it sends important political messages.

Moscow is one of the most vocal members of the council and a suspension would prevent it from speaking and voting, officials say, although diplomats could still attend debates. They would probably try to influence the Council through proxies, said a Geneva-based diplomat.

The council opened an investigation last month into allegations of rights violations in Ukraine, including possible war crimes, since Russia's attack.