Trust in UNHRC hit by vote to probe 'Russian abuses' in Ukraine: China

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The United Nations Human Rights Council taking the decision to set the ground for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses by Russian troops had adversely affected the body's members' confidence in it, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

The UN Human Rights Council resolution to set up the investigation into the alleged abuses reportedly committed by Russian soldiers passed on Thursday by a landslide. 33 members voted in favor and two, namely China and Eritrea, against.

Beijing's objection came due to the United Nations failing to probe certain countries waging wars at the expense of others, Zhao added, in a nod to the UN picking and choosing when it comes to who to investigate over abuses.

Tensions between the West on one end and China and Russia on the other have been spiraling as of late due to pre-existing economic strains between Beijing and Washington, in addition to the war in Ukraine and China refusing to impose sanctions on Russia over the crisis.

Beijing's Foreign Ministry had called on Washington to refrain from harming Chinese interests in the wake of the increasing sanctions on Moscow, with the former stressing that sanctions on Russia had been damaging the Russian-Sino trade movement, explaining sanctions do not solve problems, but rather create escalations of crisis.

China added that more than 140 of the more than 190 UN states did not join unilateral sanctions against Russia. This means that most countries of the world are taking a cautious and responsible stance on this issue.

Moscow had criticized the West for dealing a "crushing blow" to the UN system by expelling Russia from the Human Rights Council as "punishment" for the war in Ukraine. 

93 members of the UN General Assembly's 193 voted in favor of the suspension, 24 voted against, and 58 abstained.

That was the second-ever suspension of a country from the council since its establishment, with Libya being the first in 2011 when the whole West, mainly NATO members, conspired against Tripoli and led a devastating military campaign that ran the country to the ground in addition to numerous war crimes.

What is noteworthy is that the suspension came after Moscow pushed for the UN Security Council to hear about the Ukrainian crime in Bucha, where Kiev and the West accused Russian soldiers of killing civilians in the town.