The resolution was supported by more than two-thirds of the votes cast, minus abstentions, out of 193 Member States, 93 in favour and 24 against.

58 countries abstained.

Those voting against it included Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria and Vietnam.

Abstaining were India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia.

The meeting followed the resumption of an emergency special session on the war in Ukraine and reports of violations by Russian forces.

This weekend, disturbing photos were released from Bucha, a suburb of the capital Kiev, where hundreds of civilian bodies were found in the streets and mass graves after the Russian withdrawal.

Prior to the vote, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kishlitsa urged countries to support the draft resolution.

'In Bucha and dozens of other Ukrainian cities and villages, thousands of peaceful residents have been killed, tortured, raped, abducted and deprived by Russian forces, an example of how far the Russian Federation has strayed from its original declarations in the area of human rights. That is why this case is unique and the response today is obvious and self-evident".

The Member States are.Human Rights CouncilThis is not the first time that the country has been suspended from membership of the Libya lost its seat in 2011 following a crackdown on protests by ruler Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown.

In his pre-vote remarks, Deputy Ambassador Gennadji Kuzmin called on countries to 'vote against attempts by Western countries and their allies to destroy existing human rights structures'.

URGENT🚨.

The UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia's membership in the UN Human Rights Council @UN_HRC

In favour: 93

Abstained: 58

Against: 24 pic.twitter.com/6EavdZJspc

- UN News (@UN_News_Centre) April 7, 2022

Similarities with Rwanda.

The vote took place on the anniversary of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and the Ukrainian ambassador drew parallels with this dark page in recent history.

'The genocide in Rwanda, exactly one year before the tragedy commemorated on this very day, was a UN(UN) Security CouncilAnd largely due to the indifference of the world community, which did not respond to warnings at the UN General Assembly and the UN General Assembly." Kishlitsa said.

Today, in Ukraine, not even a year has passed." "Because the tragedy is now unfolding before our eyes."

reason for suspension

The UN Human Rights Council has 47 members and is headquartered in Geneva.

Russia will join in January 2021 as one of 15 countries elected by the General Assembly to serve a three-year term.

Under the Council's founding resolution of 2006, the General Assembly can suspend a country's membership if it commits gross and systematic violations of human rights.

Russia withdraws from the Council.

After the adoption of the resolution, Deputy Kuzmin suddenly stated that Russia had already decided that day to leave the Council before the end of its term.

Deputy Kuzmin argued that the Security Council is monopolised by a few countries who use it for short-term purposes.

'These countries have been directly involved in or abetting blatant and massive human rights violations for many years,' he said through an interpreter.

'While a member of the Council, it is not prepared to sacrifice short-term political and economic interests in favour of genuine cooperation and the stabilisation of the human rights situation in certain countries.'

'Dangerous precedent': China.

China was one of the countries that voted against the resolution. Ambassador Zhang Shun is concerned that the hasty move by the General Assembly is like 'pouring oil on the fire' and will exacerbate divisions, intensify conflicts and jeopardise peace efforts.

'Treating the members of the Human Rights Council in this way would set a new and dangerous precedent, further intensify conflicts in the human rights field, and have serious consequences for the UN governance system.'

EU 'rare decision' praised.

For the European Union, the scale and gravity of Russia's violations in Ukraine and the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty demand a strong and unified international response.

Ambassador Olaf Skoog, head of the EU delegation, said: 'This rare decision taken by the General Assembly today sends a strong signal of accountability and is expected to help prevent and deter further human rights violations'.

A step in the right direction: the United States.

The United States was the last country to speak at the day-long conference.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield described the adoption of the resolution as an "important and historic moment". She said the resolution was important not only in terms of accountability to Russia, but also in terms of walking alongside the Ukrainian people.

'Today, the international community has taken a collective step in the right direction. We have ensured that persistent and egregious human rights violators will not be allowed to occupy leadership positions on human rights at the UN', said Ms Thomas-Greenfield.

Let us continue to hold Russia to account for this unjust, unjust and unjust war and do everything in our power to stand with the Ukrainian people."

UN News