Serbia claims it voted to revoke Russia’s UNHRC status under duress amid sanctions threat

Serbia which was among  92 countries who voted in favour of resolution to suspend Russia's membership in United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), has w stated that it voted under "threat of facing sanctions and increasing pressures". 

This came shortly after United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has suspended Russia from UNHRC over allegations of committing horrific human rights violations in Ukraine. Serbia was among with along with 92 or countries that had voted in favour of resolution, while 24 have voted against resolution, and 53 nations, including India, have abstained from voting.

Serbian President Alexander Vucic while speaking to Radio Television of Serbia, a public broadcaster of Serbia, confirmed about same and said that his country voted to suspend Russia's membership in Council in view of threats of facing sanctions and rising western pressure. "People asked why we didn't vote against or didn't abstain from voting. However, if we abstained, or countries will go against us and pressure will increase", he said. 

In addition to this, he also ted that in meantime, a crucial decision was also being made regarding destiny of Serbia on wher it will be exempted from pack of sanctions on oil from European Union. tably, one of Russian-owned companies, Gazprom Neft which is majority shareholder of Petroleum Industry of Serbia is presently facing sanctions by European Union. 

UNGA suspends Russia from UN Human Rights Council

In a major development, United Nations General Assembly on Thursday took a major move and suspended membership of Russia from United Nations Human Rights Council in line with allegations of carrying out human rights violations in Ukraine and furr causing a 'mass gecide'. During this while, a total of 92 countries had voted in favour, 24 had voted against resolution, whereas, 53 nations had abstained from voting.

move was initiated by United States after shocking ims of corpses strewn across streets of Ukrainian city Bucha, and or cities surfaced in past few days leading to Washington calling out Moscow’s participation in top human rights body a "farce”. US envoy to United Nations had earlier placed a case seeking suspension of Russia from UNHRC. 

It is important to te that decision came on same day when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an exclusive interview with Republic TV's Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami had slammed  United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for t taking strong measures against Russia by isolating m, and just using word 'concerned' for over eight years. 

Im: AP