Beijing cites ‘politicization’ of Human Rights Council, opposes probe into possible abuses in Ukraine
China has voted against a UN Human Rights Council investigation into possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine, saying the investigation is politically motivated. The move means Beijing has moved away from its previous stance on the conflict.
“We have noticed the politicization and conflict in recent years [council] Is increasing, which has severely affected credibility, neutrality and integrity [of the body]” Chen Xu, the top Chinese diplomat at the UN office in Geneva, said.
Before the Human Rights Council vote on Thursday, Chen made the remarks – with 12 abstentions on 33-2 – to approve a resolution calling for a war crimes investigation. Eritrea is the only other nation to have voted. Abstaining members include Armenia, Bolivia, Cameroon, Cuba, India, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Pakistan, Senegal, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.
🔴 BREAKING HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL “Votes to increase scrutiny of deteriorating human rights situation # Ukraine Arising from the Russian aggression, “especially given the facts # Mariupol And many other cities and towns.✅ Yes: 33❌ No: 2➖ Break: 12 pic.twitter.com/KoDssTw3Df
– United Nations Human Rights Council (@UN_HRC) May 12, 2022
The investigation will apparently include only allegations against Russia, not crimes committed by Ukrainian troops, and will focus on events in the Kyiv, Chernigov, Kharkov and Sumi regions of Ukraine in late February and early March. It will be done “In order to hold those responsible accountable.” According to the resolution.
The territories that came under Russian control in the early days of the conflict, which began on February 24, “Europe has experienced some of the worst human rights abuses in decades.” Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Emin Zeper told the council.
Moscow’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, has argued that “Combined West” One is organized “The political path to satanic RussiaInstead of addressing the real causes of the crisis in Ukraine and looking for ways to solve those problems
The UN General Assembly last month voted to expel Russia from the Human Rights Council. China also voted against it, but withdrew from other resolutions on Ukraine, including the General Assembly’s condemnation of Russia’s military action and Moscow’s condemnation of the UN Security Council.
Speaking at a Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, Dai Bing, China’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, argued that anti-Russian sanctions would be reversed. “Sanctions will not only bring peace but will only accelerate the spread of the crisis, triggering massive food, energy and financial crises around the world.” He said.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 after Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the first Minsk agreement and the final recognition of the Donetsk republics of Moscow, Donetsk and Lugansk. The German- and French-brokered Minsk protocol was designed to give special status to isolated territories within the Ukrainian state.
The Kremlin has since demanded that Ukraine formally declare itself a neutral state that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kyiv has insisted that the Russian invasion was completely unpopular and has denied claims that it is planning to forcibly retake the two republics.
