Czech Republic applies to replace Russia in UNHRC

The Czech Republic has put forward the initiative to replace Russia in the UN Human Rights Council, submitting the relevant application.

This was announced by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Russia must be held accountable for aggression, human suffering, and destruction in Ukraine. That is why the country's membership in the UN Human Rights Council has been suspended. The Czech Republic seeks to replace Russia in the Council, while support for human rights is a priority for the Czech government,” the Foreign Ministry wrote.

Russia's membership in the UNHRC was suspended on April 7 in connection with reports of Russian atrocities committed against civilians in Ukraine.

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The new member to replace Russia in the Council will be voted in within weeks. The procedure will have been completed before the Council’s June session. It is expected that Russia will be replaced by one of the Eastern European nations.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been destroying Ukrainian infrastructure, massively shelling residential areas, brutally torturing, raping, and killing civilians.