Patterico's Pontifications

4/7/2022

U.N. Votes To Suspend Russia From Human Rights Council

Filed under: General — Dana @ 12:25 pm



[guest post by Dana]

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Frankly, it’s still shocking that the Russian Federation was ever voted on to such a council in the first place…

In a follow-up to whether the U.N. would vote to eject Russia from their Human Rights Council, well, they ended up doing the right thing:

The United Nations suspended Russia from its seat on the Human Rights Council on Thursday as the world calls out atrocities committed in Ukraine.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield introduced the proposal earlier in the week following accusations that Russian troops tortured and killed Ukrainian civilians in Bucha, a suburb near Kyiv.

The bodies were discovered after Moscow withdrew its troops from Bucha. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the aftermath, which he saw firsthand on Monday, as a “genocide” and accused Russia of war crimes. The Kremlin has previously described its military actions in Ukraine as a “special operation” and has denied targeting civilians.

Thomas-Greenfield said Tuesday that Russia’s membership on the council hurts its credibility, “undermines the entire U.N. and it is just plain wrong.”

Before the vote took place, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya spoke up and pushed for countries to vote for the resolution to suspend Russia:

Bucha and dozens of other Ukrainian cities and villages, where thousands of peaceful residents have been killed, tortured, raped, abducted and robbed by the Russian Army, serve as an example of how dramatically far the Russian Federation has gone from its initial declarations in the human rights domain. That is why this case is unique and today’s response is obvious and self-explanatory.

Russia, of course, did not take the ejection in stride:

Speaking after the vote, Russia’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Gennady Kuzmin described the move as an “illegitimate and politically motivated step” and then announced that Russia had decided to quit the Human Rights Council altogether.

“You do not submit your resignation after you are fired,” Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters.

Not said is that the addition of the Russian Federation to the council is what hurt the organization’s credibility in the first place. That we’re nearly seven weeks into the war before the vote took place is another marker.

Meanwhile, at least three western allies are declining to eject Russian diplomats from their countries:

Britain, Canada and Australia have so far declined to expel Russian diplomats, in contrast with 15 EU nations that have now evicted more than 200 in response to alleged war crimes in Ukraine, The Guardian reports.

In the previous two months another 200 Russian diplomats have been expelled.

The UK’s reluctance to act was despite a warning from its foreign secretary, Liz Truss, who said the “age of engagement” with Russia is over.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended the decision, saying it was likely Russia would retaliate with a reciprocal measure.

He said he was not sure if the “symbolic gesture” would be worth having Canadian diplomats ejected from the country.

Britain previously expelled 23 Russian diplomats in 2018 after the Kremlin would not explain how a Russian-made nerve agent was used on former spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

In the last week Poland, Germany, France, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Latvia, Greece, Portugal, Estonia, Ireland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Austria and Luxembourg have all expelled Russian diplomats.

Additionally, another vote related to an investigation of war crimes by Russia took place in the House. The no votes were unsurprising (with one exception*):

The House on Wednesday passed a bill that would direct President Biden to prepare a report on the government’s efforts to collect and examine evidence related to war crimes and other atrocities committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The bipartisan legislation, dubbed the Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act, passed the lower chamber in a 418-7 vote, with all those in opposition belonging to the Republican Party.

GOP Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Scott Perry (Pa.) all opposed the bill.

*Rep. Liz Cheney mistakenly voted to oppose the bill, only to issue a statement later clarifying the mistaken vote.

–Dana

12 Responses to “U.N. Votes To Suspend Russia From Human Rights Council”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (5395f9)

  2. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended the decision, saying it was likely Russia would retaliate with a reciprocal measure.

    He said he was not sure if the “symbolic gesture” would be worth having Canadian diplomats ejected from the country.

    I wonder if anyone thought to ask the Boy Philosopher what benefits Canada derives from having its diplomats remain in Russia. Does he see Ottawa (more to the point, himself) as some kind of truce broker if given the opportunity?

    JVW (ee64e4)

  3. GOP Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Scott Perry (Pa.) all opposed the bill.

    Despite Putin ranking them behind Russian prostitutes whom he called the best in the world. I guess he makes it up to them in other ways.

    But, seriously, what kind of people vote for these people? That’s what’s scary.

    nk (1d9030)

  4. So, should the US recall its ambassador and expel Russia’s? It’s going to suck being interned after the shooting starts.

    Kevin M (38e250)

  5. Frankly, it’s still shocking that the Russian Federation was ever voted on to such a council in the first place…

    Shocking, but not surprising. The UNHRC and its predecessor, the UNCHR, have long included many of the world’s most egregious human rights violators. Members still in good standing include China, Cuba, Pakistan and Venezuela.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  6. But, seriously, what kind of people vote for these people?

    Rank and file Republicans?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  7. I think we should treat Cheney’s flub the same as she would treat it if it were Trump’s flub.
    In that vein she only did what her black heart was calling out for her to do.

    If you never give quarter, don’t ask for any

    steveg (e81d76)

  8. Cheney’s flub? Howzabout Joe’s: never forget what a steaming pile of manure this poop-shoveling old POTUS is and thatr his nose should be rubbed in it daily:

    “Putin knows, if I am President of the United States, his days of tyranny and trying to intimidate the United States and those in Eastern Europe are over. I’m going to stand up to him; he’s a bully…” – Joe Biden, 2020

    Because “folks” like Benjamin Hall, his family– and the families of his lost colleagues as well as those of Eastern Europe won’t:

    “Its been over three weeks since the attack in Ukraine and I wanted to start sharing it all. But first I need to pay tribute to my colleagues Pierre and Sasha who didnt make it that day. Pierre and I traveled the world together, working was his joy and his joy was infectious. RIPTo sum it up, I’ve lost half a leg on one side and a foot on the other. One hand is being put together, one eye is no longer working, and my hearing is pretty blown… but all in all I feel pretty damn lucky to be here – and it is the people who got me here who are amazing!” – Benjamin Hall, War Correspondent, Fox News Channel

    DCSCA (f4c5e5)

  9. “You do not submit your resignation after you are fired,” Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters.

    Russia was merely suspended.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  10. Wall Street Journal article covers different stages of what went on in Bucha by different Russian units, but not in chronological order

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-invasion-war-crimes-horrors-of-ukraines-bucha-laid-bare-on-yablunska-street-11649365202

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  11. Scary –
    81 million voted for the senile dolt and the replaceable female.

    mg (8cbc69)


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