UN to Investigate Alleged Misdeeds of Russians in Ukraine

The United Nations Human Rights Council has agreed to investigate alleged misdeeds by the Russian military in Ukraine. A large majority voted in favour of a proposal from Ukraine to investigate events in Kyiv and other regions in February and March.

The UN Human Rights Council, which sits in Geneva, Switzerland, is made up of representatives from 47 states. China and Eritrea voted against the proposal. In addition, there were twelve abstentions.

UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said earlier in the day that more than 1,000 bodies of civilians have been recovered in and around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in recent weeks. According to her, in many cases, there are probably war crimes.

Until recently, Russia was part of the Human Rights Council. The country was suspended last month for alleged human rights violations in Ukraine, after which Moscow announced that it would immediately terminate its membership. Earlier this week, the Czech Republic took Russia’s place.

Also in Ukraine, thousands of cases of suspected crimes by the Russians are being investigated by, among others, the Public Prosecution Service.