The United Nations voted Thursday to remove Russia from its Human Rights Council after mounting evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, including the alleged massacre of hundreds of Ukrainian civilians by retreating Russian forces.
The UN General Assembly will meet on Thursday.
The U.N. General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from its seat on the council.
Brazil, India and Mexico abstained from the vote.
The Group of Seven, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, called for Russia's suspension from the council in a joint statement Thursday morning.
Libya was suspended from the Human Rights Council in 2011. Russia was on the council for three years. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, called for Russia to be suspended from the council on Monday. China and Venezuela have been accused of human rights abuses and have been included in the ranks of the Human Rights Council.
Sergiy Kyslytsya, the ambassador to the U.N., appealed to the General Assembly to vote in favor of suspension.
Russia's response to its suspension. Russia warned other countries in a memo that removing Russia from the council would be viewed as unfriendly and have consequences.
In a video address on Tuesday, Zelensky demanded that Russia be removed from the UN Security Council. Russia would need to approve its own removal as it holds veto power on the Security Council.
Russia threatens states with consequences if they vote against the UN.
Zelensky wants Russia to be removed from the UN Security Council over war crimes.
The United States wants Russia to be removed from the UN Human Rights Council.
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