UK, US call for suspension of Russia’s human rights council membership

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Greenfield announced on the 4th that the United States would seek the UN General Assembly to suspend Russia’s seat on the Human Rights Council. She clearly stated at a press conference that Russia’s participation in the Human Rights Council is a farce and that Russia should not occupy an authoritative position in the Human Rights Council. She will bring the matter to UN Security Council right after returning to New York on Wednesday.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price confirmed the news on the same day, announcing that the United States will seek a vote at the UN General Assembly to request the expulsion of Russia from the Human Rights Council.

According to previous reports, the Russian army massacred dozens of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine, causing massive loss of life and severe human rights violations. Currently, the UN General Assembly needs the support of two-thirds of its 193 members to remove Russia from the organization. Two resolutions condemning Russia have been adopted with 140 approval votes since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Hours after Greenfield made the comment, the UK also said that in view of Russia’s current war crimes and heinous reports of the Bucha massacre, Russia can no longer continue to be a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and should be excluded.