Calls Grow To Expel Russia From The United Nations Human Rights Council

Calls are growing to expel Russia from The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

Following reports of Russian troops killing innocent civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, the US is demanding the UN General Assembly kick Russia out.

According to Reuters, a two-thirds majority vote by the 193-member assembly in New York can suspend Russia if the country is found to be persistently inciting gross and systematic violations of human rights.

While visiting Romania, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: "Russia's participation on the Human Rights Council is a farce.

"And it is wrong, which is why we believe it is time the UN General Assembly vote to remove them."

She added: "My message to those 140 countries who have courageously stood together is: the images out of Bucha and devastation across Ukraine require us to now match our words with action.”

Ms Thomas-Greenfield also went on to say she wishes to cast her vote this week.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said there was ‘no place’ for Russia on the UN Human Rights Council.

He tweeted: "Spoke with UN Secretary General @AntonioGuterres on the current security situation and the Bucha massacre.

"Stressed that Ukraine will use all available UN mechanisms to collect evidence and hold Russian war criminals to account. 

"No place for Russia on the UN Human Rights Council."

However, some Russian leaders believe removing the country from the council wouldn’t be productive for ‘peace talks’.

Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzia, said the choice to exclude Russia from the Human Rights Council is ‘unbelievable’, RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty reports.

"This is again unprecedented, and this will not facilitate or encourage or be helpful to what is happening between Russia and the Ukrainian peace talks."

He also denied the gruesome attacks in Bucha, stating that footage emerging had been ‘staged.’

His claims come after disturbing images and videos began circulating online showing civilian bodies in the street, which have prompted many to call for further sanctions to be imposed on Russia.

President of the EU Council said he was ‘shocked by haunting images of atrocities committed by the Russian army in Kyiv liberated region’, which could be added to a war crimes trial.

He added: “Further EU sanctions & support are on their way. EU is assisting Ukraine & NGOs in gathering of necessary evidence for pursuit in international courts.”