GENEVA – A UN human rights body overwhelmingly approved a motion on Friday to appoint a new independent expert on alleged human rights abuses in Russia, accusing Moscow of creating a "climate of fear" through repression. and violence.
The members of the entity voted 17 in favor and six against, with 24 abstentions —among them, Mexico—. It is the first time that the Human Rights Council appoints a special rapporteur to examine the rights record of one of its so-called "P5" members, who hold permanent seats on the Security Council.
The vote follows tougher Russian laws this year to punish people Moscow says discredit the military or spread false information, and after the forced closure of human rights groups, including Memorial, which won the Nobel Prize on Friday. peace.
Russia's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, said the resolution contained a "series of false accusations."
"This draft resolution is one more example of how Western countries are using this council to achieve their political goals," he said.
The UN decision comes as a relief to Western countries after a historic defeat in a vote on China on Thursday.
The resolution was submitted to the Geneva council by almost 50 countries, including all EU nations except Hungary, as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Japan and Colombia.
