After UNGA Suspends Russia From Human Rights Council, Foreign Min Says 'Illegal'

A total of 93 countries voted in favour of the draft resolution. India however abstained, along with Pakistan.

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, speaks during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, 7 April 2022, at the United Nations headquarters.

Photo: PTI

The United Nations General Assembly, on Thursday, 7 April, suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council. Meanwhile, India abstained from voting on the draft resolution.

Later, Russia rejected the suspension as illegal, reported news agency AFP.

A total of 93 countries voted in favour of the draft resolution, 24 countries voted against it, and 58 countries abstained.

The United Nations General Assembly emergency special session was held to suspend Russia over reports of "gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" by the Russian troops in Ukraine.

Russia Rejects Suspension as 'Illegal'; 'Grateful', Says Ukraine Foreign Minister

Russia considers the vote to suspend it to be "illegal and politically motivated, aimed at ostentatiously punishing a sovereign UN member state that pursues an independent domestic and foreign policy", the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, reacting to the suspension, the Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia would "defend" its "interests".

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba took to social media to say, "War criminals have no place in UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights."

"Grateful to all member states which supported the relevant UNGA resolution and chose the right side of history."

US Applauds Vote in UNGA

In a statement, US President Joe Biden applauded what he called an "overwhelming vote" and called it a meaningful step by the international community "further demonstrating how Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah."

"The United States worked closely with our allies and partners around the world to drive this vote because Russia is committing gross and systemic violations of human rights," Biden said.

"....And we will continue to work with responsible nations around the world to gather evidence to hold Russia accountable for the atrocities being committed, increase the pressure on Russia’s economy, and isolate Russia on the international stage."

US President Joe Biden

Diplomacy the Only Viable Option: India

India abstained from voting on the resolution, with the country's Permanent Representative to the UN, TS Tirumurti, calling for diplomacy.

"We continue to remain deeply concerned at the worsening situation and reiterate our call for an end to all hostilities. When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option," he added.

Tirumurti also termed the recent reports of civilian killings in Bucha "deeply disturbing."

"We have unequivocally condemned these killings and support the call for an independent investigation," he said.

"Impact of the crisis has also been felt beyond the region with increasing food & energy costs, especially for many developing countries. It's in our collective interest to work constructively, both inside UN and outside, towards seeking an early resolution to the conflict," he added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, too, abstained from voting on the draft resolution.

India Abstained 6 Times From Voting in UN Over Ukraine

India has abstained from voting six times in the UN over the Ukraine crisis.

On 24 March, India had abstained from voting on a resolution by Ukraine and its Western allies, blaming Russia for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,

Five of the six abstentions were on resolutions sponsored by Western countries, whereas one was sponsored by Russia and its allies.

Explaining the reasons behind India's abstention, TS Tirumurti, the country's Permanent Representative to the UN, had said, "India abstained on the resolution since what we require now is to focus on cessation of hostilities and on urgent humanitarian assistance. The draft resolution did not fully reflect our expected focus on these challenges."