Thursday’s UNGA action was India’s third abstention on votes regarding the HRC. The first two abstentions were around the setting up of a Commission of Inquiry, on March 4, to look into violations of human rights and international law in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Thursday’s resolution sought the suspension of Russia from the HRC, and accused Moscow of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights”.

The HRC is a UN body, comprising 47 states, that describes itself as “responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe”.

Ukraine’s appeal

Addressing the Assembly before the vote, Ukraine’s UNPR, Sergiy Kyslytsya urged member-states to vote for the resolution.

Several countries opposed the resolution on the grounds that it had been put to vote before an independent inquiry had presented its findings. Some countries, like India, were of the view that adopting the resolution would violate due process and impact the credibility of the organisation.

In addition to the Commission of Inquiry, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, as well as various UN countries, including India, had called for an independent inquiry into the brutal killing of civilians in the Bucha suburb of Kyiv.

Following the resolution’s adoption, Russia’s representative called it “illegitimate and politically motivated”. Russia also announced that it would be “ending” or “suspending” its membership from the Council.

“The vote at the UNGA was difficult for India as it subverts and short circuits the whole Human Rights Council-led process,” former Indian UNPR Asoke Mukerji said.

(With Suhasini Haidar

in New Delhi)

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