Ukraine: UNHRC to probe Russia’s alleged human rights violations

Geneva, March 4 : The UN Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution on the Ukraine situation that will ensure an independent body will probe into alleged human rights violations by Russia in Ukraine, media reports said. The resolution was adopted in a 32-2 vote, with 13 abstentions, including China and India. Russia and Eritrea opposed the document, Sputnik said. The UN body’s resolutions are not binding. The draft resolution was submitted on Monday on behalf of Ukraine. It called for immediate creation of an independent commission to investigate “all alleged violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in Crimea and certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions starting from 2014, as well as in other areas of Ukraine, starting from February 22.” Condemning the alleged rights violations during Ukraine’s invasion by Moscow, the UNHRC agreed to set up the panel that will also probe possible war crimes. “Those from Russia directing and committing violations against my people should be paying attention. The evidence is going to be collected; you are going to be identified, and you are going to be held to account,” Ukrainian envoy to the UN here, Yevheniia Filipenko told the media after the vote. Although not legally binding, the decision is a political message from the nations and does authorise investigations. A three-person commission was created after Friday’s vote. Russia launched a “special operation” at dawn on February 24, and has in the past over a week denied “targeting civilians” in Ukraine. Rejoining the world rights body as a voting member, Washington described the vote “a powerful condemnation of Russia’s actions”. Media reports said the panel has one year to produce its report. VP ING