Russia suspended from UNHCR -great now boot them from the U.N. Security Council. Updated: Congratulations Madam Justice…

The United Nations General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council. Criticism of how feckless the United Nations has become is entirely accurate and deserving.

Apr 07, 2022

To be clear this was the long time coming and it is heartening to know that our own United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield lead the recent actions against Russia. During her April 5, 2022 remarks our Ambassador said the following:

“Russia should not have a position of authority in a body whose very purpose is to promote respect for human rights. Not only is it the height of hypocrisy, it is dangerous,” Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield

The April 7, 2022 UNGA vote breakdown:

93 nations voted in favor of suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council. Conversely 24 Nations voted against Russia’s suspension and 58 abstained (feckless cowards)

UK Mission Geneva 🇬🇧 @UKMissionGeneva

#BREAKING The 🇺🇳 General Assembly has spoken: Russia will be suspended from the Human Rights Council.

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba stated:

…War criminals have no place in UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights …Grateful to all member states which supported the relevant UNGA resolution and chose the right side of history.

Dmytro Kuleba @DmytroKuleba

Russia’s rights of membership in the UN Human Rights Council has just been suspended. War criminals have no place in UN bodies aimed at protecting human rights. Grateful to all member states which supported the relevant UNGA resolution and chose the right side of history.

Not that this matters but I thought you should know that this is only the second time the United Nations has taken this kind of step. The first time was back in 2011 regarding Libya…

…then WHY is Russia still the president of the UN Security Council?

The Russian Federation ascended to the “president” of the UH Security Coucil in February 2022 ←that is extremely important because this shows the lengths and premeditation of Russia. Sidenote (and in my belief, absolutely fair criticism) the fact the United Nations General Assembly has yet to vote on removing Russia as the current President of the UN Security Council. That in of itself can only be ameliorated by voting to remove Russia as the “presiding” President of the UN-SC.

To be clear, that UN position is on a near monthly rotational basis but the point is why is Russia still on the UN Security Council?

https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/presidency

Until such time that occurs then expect Russia to misuse its veto power to essentially blockage any actions against Russia. This UN Security Council link will take you to the draftee resolution —this is what Russia Vetoed…

Below are a few and largely agreed upon War Crimes (again that’s not an inclusive list) that the International Criminal Court specifically note as prosecutable war crimes

Targeting Civilians
Using Rape (especially of young girls) as a tool in war
The Willful killing, torture, mutilation and/or inhumane treatment, especially on civilians.
The use of Biological, medical or scientific experiments which cause death or seriously endanger lives
Indiscriminate destruction and/or appropriation of property (think plundering)
Sentencing or execution without due process
Unlawful deportation, transfer or confinement
Taking hostages
Attacking personnel or objects involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission

On February 24, 2022 Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN stated the following —shortly thereafter Russia (as the current “president” of the UN Security Council) used its unilateral veto power to block a Security Council Resolution condemning Russia grotesque war of choice, see February 26, 2022 UN Security Council Press Release As noted on February 24, 2022 -the Ukrainian Ambassador stated the following during a tense exchange with the Russian Ambassador:

“…There is no purgatory for war criminals… they go straight to hell”

I would recommend that you read this guide —which was published by the ICC. Additionally you can read my past publications found here and here. Again on February 28, 2022 ICC Prosecutor Khan announced (via Twitter) that he still retains jurisdiction (mainly because the ICC never closed their investigation of the war crimes Russia committed when they unlawfully invaded Crimea and later unlawfully annexed it in 2014)

U.N War Crimes
U.N. Crimes against Humanity
ICC’s Trying individuals for genocide, war crimes.. ← embedded link takes you directly to the ICC’s past and current War Crime cases and I would recommend that you bookmark it for future reference
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court —to be fair and in the spirit of transparency it’s important to know that the US, Russia and Ukraine are not party to this treaty. Which is why I specifically pointed you to the 2014 ICC Case concerning Russia War Crimes vis-a-vis Crimea
Human Rights Watch -documenting ongoing war crimes Russia has committed in their six week long war of choice.

Again I’d recommend you bookmark the HRW’s dedicated website concerning Ukraine. Fair warming the materials and facts collected are both horrifying and sobering but this is what war looks like. It’s awful.

https://www.hrw.org/tag/russia-ukraine-war

Again on February 26, 2022 I wrote about Ukraine’s dire warnings, that article provided the following

Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the Situation in Ukraine: “I have been closely following recent developments in and around Ukraine with increasing concern.” His statement further states:

I remind all sides conducting hostilities on the territory of Ukraine that pursuant to the declaration lodged on 8 September 2015, accepting jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or the "Court"), my Office may exercise its jurisdiction over and investigate any act of genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed within the territory of Ukraine since 20 February 2014 onwards…
Any person who commits such crimes, including by ordering, inciting, or contributing in another manner to the commission of these crimes, may be liable to prosecution before the Court, with full respect for the principle of complementarity. It is imperative that all parties to the conflict respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.
My Office has also received multiple queries on the amendments to the Rome Statute with respect to the crime of aggression, which came into force in 2018, and the application of those amendments to the present situation. Given that neither Ukraine nor the Russian Federation are State Parties to the Rome Statute, the Court cannot exercise jurisdiction over this alleged crime in this situation.

On March 2, 2022 the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to “condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against the sovereign nation of Ukraine” and for “the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.” —you can listen to the Voice of America audio OpEd It’s definitely worth the 3 minutes to listen to the VOA.

Moreover I would also recommend you read the April 5, 2022 Voice of America Report:

U.S. Assesses Members of Russia's Forces Are Committing War Crimes in Ukraine

…as you’ll note our Secretary of State, Antony Blinken was and is unequivocal —Russia has committed war crimes. There’s no fuzz there, it’s an uequivocal statement of facts by SoS Blinken —however on March 23, 2022 —days before the world saw what Russian Troops did in Bucha (and sadly the likelihood that Russian Troops did far worse in Mariupol and Kharkiv) —Blinken was absolutely clear, see his March 23, 2022 State Department “official” statement —which reads in part:

Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the U.S. government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine.
Our assessment is based on a careful review of available information from public and intelligence sources. As with any alleged crime, a court of law with jurisdiction over the crime is ultimately responsible for determining criminal guilt in specific cases. The U.S. government will continue to track reports of war crimes and will share information we gather with allies, partners, and international institutions and organizations, as appropriate. We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions.

Here’s one factor to keep in mind —during Russia’s unlawful invasion of Crimea, and in Georgia —the prevalence of smart phones is nothing like it is in 2022. Moreover satellite imagery has vastly improved. This means Russia (who are the masters of gaslighting and disinformation and/or misinformation) will be held accountable — these advances (especially drone technology) Russia can’t run and hide from their crimes. Pictures and Videos will memorializes Russia’s atrocities that they have committed against the Ukrainian people.

And to be clear the fact that the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.N. entered a video into the “permanent record” of the UN Security Council’s record is a big deal. Below I’ve embedded a YouTube link from ITV ←yes I’m an American that watches other Countries news broadcast because sometimes it’s worth stepping outside of the American mainstream media and watch how other Countries report newsworthy events.

And now your daily saltwater therapy —this morning’s sunrise was spectacular but there’s another gnarly coastal storm brewing…

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