Ukraine war: United Nations to vote on suspending Russia from Human Rights Council

The United Nations General Assembly willvoteon Thursday on a U.S. push to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council overreports of "gross and systematic violations and abuses ofhumanrights" by invadingRussian troops inUkraine.

A two-thirds majority of voting members - abstentions do not count - can suspend a countryfromthe 47-membercouncil. Libya was suspended in 2011 because of violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Western diplomats are confident they have enough support among the 193-member General Assembly to adopt a resolution to suspend Moscow. The draft text expresses "grave concern at the ongoinghumanrightsandhumanitarian crisis inUkraine," particularly at reports ofrightsabuses byRussia.

Explaining the move, announced on Monday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told Reuters: "It is important to say (toRussia) 'we're not going to allow you to continue to act with such impunity and pretend that you respecthumanrights'."

Russiahas warned countries that a yesvoteor abstention will be viewed as an "unfriendly gesture" with consequences for bilateral ties, according to a note seen by Reuters.

SinceRussia's invasion ofUkrainebegan on Feb. 24, the Assembly has adopted two resolutions denouncingRussiawith 141 and 140votes in favor. Moscow says it is carrying out a "special operation" to demilitarizeUkraine.

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The United States announced it would seekRussia's suspension afterUkraineaccusedRussian troops of killing hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha.

Russiadenies attacking civilians inUkraine.U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday that while Bucha was underRussian control "not a single civilian sufferedfromany kind of violence."

Russiais in its second year of a three-year term on the Geneva-basedHumanRightsCouncil, which cannot make legally binding decisions. Its decisions send important political messages, however, and it can authorize investigations.

Last month thecouncilopened an investigation into allegations ofrightsviolations, including possible war crimes, inUkrainesinceRussia's attack.