UN suspends Russia from Human Rights Council

Russia has been suspended from the Human Rights Council by the United Nations General Assembly in the wake of the killings in Ukraine's Bucha, reports news agency AFP. Evidence of civilian killings in Bucha and other towns around Kyiv -- which Ukraine has blamed on Russian troops -- have shocked the world and triggered calls for new sanctions on Moscow.

These allegations have however been denied by Russia.

Of the 193 members of the assembly, 93 voted in favor of suspension as proposed by the United States while 24 voted against and 58 abstained, suggesting weakening international unity against Russia at the United Nations.

With Libya as the first country to be suspended from the council in 2011, Russia becomes the second.

Ukraine said it was "grateful" for the decision to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, saying "war criminals" should not be represented in the body.

"War criminals have no place in UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.

"Grateful to all member states which supported the relevant UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) resolution and chose the right side of history."