Members To Vote Later Today On Russia UNHRC Suspension

The 193 members of the United Nations will vote later today on whether to suspend Russia's membership of the UN Human Rights Council due to its actions in the invasion of Ukraine.

• A two-thirds majority of voting members is required to enact the suspension, meaning that if there are no abstentions, 129 nations will have to vote in favour of the US-proposed motion.
• The Russian gov't has warned any nations voting in favour of the motion will be viewed as having committed an 'unfriendly gesture', with consequences for bilateral relations.
• In March, the UN General Assembly held a vote on condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In that instance, 141 nations voted in favour of the motion, with 35 abstaining and five voting against.
• There is the prospect that, in order to save face, Russia pre-empts the vote and withdraws from the UNHRC unilaterally. Moscow pulled the same manouevre in March when hours before a vote on expulsion from the Council of Europe Russia announced its withdrawal from the group.
• Suspension from the UNHRC should not be viewed as a precursor for Russia's suspension from the UN Security Council. This would require unanimity from all members, including perpetual abstainers China and Russia itself, and therefore is not a feasible possibility.