The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has voted strongly in favor of a resolution condemning alleged rights violations during Russia's military actions in Ukraine and setting up a commission of inquiry to investigate them.
In the March 4 ballot, 32 members voted yes and 13 abstained. Only Russia and Eritrea voted no on the 47-seat body.
🔴 BREAKINGThe Human Rights Council has decided to urgently establish an independent international commission of inquiry as a result of #Russia%27s aggression against #Ukraine.✅ YES: 32❌ NO: 2➖ ABSTENTIONS: 13 pic.twitter.com/cJGjHtwXcR
— UN Human Rights Council 📍 #HRC49 (@UN_HRC) March 4, 2022
"The Human Rights Council has decided to urgently establish an independent international commission of inquiry as a result of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," the UNHRC said in a tweet.
Just ahead of the vote, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Yevheniia Filipenko, urged the council to remember its "common duty to ensure accountability by mandating the documentation and verification of Russia's crimes and identification of those responsible."
Russia has denied committing any human rights violations, such as the intentional targeting of civilians, in its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.