Moscow: Russia has announced that it will not attend an upcoming special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Ukraine.
“Unfortunately, our arguments and explanations regarding the true goals of the special military operation and the situation on the ground are being completely ignored,” Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday, according to Xinhua.
“With its presence, the Russian delegation will not legitimise another biassed political show,” Zakharova added.
Russia’s decision came a day after the UN Human Rights Council announced a special session on Thursday “to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression.”
The meeting is being held at the request of Ukraine.
The UNHRC held an urgent debate on the Russian aggression against Ukraine on March 3-4, following which it decided to establish an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate all alleged human rights violations in the context of Moscow’s invasion of Kiev.
Also on April 7, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution proposed by the United States to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council in response to images and horrific narratives of killings and atrocities emerging from Ukraine’s Bucha.
Russia announced its voluntary withdrawal from the 47-member Council immediately following the vote.
Source:OCN