Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Reuters) – The United Nations General Assembly will vote on Thursday on a US push to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of “serious and systematic human rights abuses and violations” by the United Nations. Russian troops invade Ukraine. A two-thirds majority of the members who voted – abstentions do not count – could suspend a country from the 47-member council. Libya was suspended in 2011 over violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi. Western diplomats are confident they have enough support from the 193-member General Assembly to pass a resolution suspending Moscow. The draft text expresses “grave concern about the ongoing human rights crisis and the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine”, in particular about reports of human rights violations by Russia. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Explaining the move, which was announced Monday, UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told Reuters: “It’s important to say (to Russia)” we will not allow you to continue to act with such impunity and pretend to respect human rights. rights “. Russia has warned countries that a yes or no abstention would be seen as an “unfriendly gesture” with consequences for bilateral relations, according to a Reuters note. read more Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Assembly has adopted two resolutions denouncing Russia with 141 and 140 votes in favor, respectively. Moscow says it is conducting a “special operation” to demilitarize Ukraine. The United States has said it will ask Russia to suspend its military operations in Ukraine after Ukraine accused Russia of killing hundreds of civilians in the northern city of Bucharest. read more Russia denies attacking civilians in Ukraine UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday that while Buha was under Russian control, “not a single civilian has been subjected to any form of violence.” read more Russia is in the second year of its three-year term on the Geneva-based council, which is unable to take legally binding decisions. However, its decisions send important political messages and can authorize investigations. Moscow is one of the council’s most vocal members and a suspension would bar it from speaking and voting, officials say, although its diplomats could still attend the talks. “They would probably still try to influence the Council through proxies,” said a Geneva-based diplomat. Last month the council launched an investigation into allegations of human rights abuses, including possible war crimes, in Ukraine following the Russian attack. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Additional report from Emma Farge in Geneva. Editing: Mary Milliken, Grant McCool and Paul Simao Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
