BUCHAREST (Reuters) – America will ask the U.N. Normal Meeting to droop Russia from the Human Rights Council, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations mentioned on Monday, after Ukraine accused Russian troops of killing dozens of civilians within the city of Bucha.

A two-thirds majority vote by the 193-member meeting in New York can droop a state from the council for persistently committing gross and systematic violations of human rights.

Talking in Bucharest on Monday, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield mentioned: “Russia’s participation on the Human Rights Council is a farce.

“And it’s flawed, which is why we consider it’s time the UN Normal Meeting vote to take away them.”

For the reason that Ukraine invasion started on Feb. 24, the U.N. Normal Meeting has adopted two resolutions denouncing Russia with a minimum of 140 sure votes. Moscow says it’s finishing up a “particular navy operation” to destroy Ukraine’s navy infrastructure.

“My message to these 140 international locations who’ve courageously stood collectively is: the photographs out of Bucha and devastation throughout Ukraine require us to now match our phrases with motion,” Thomas-Greenfield, visiting Romania to see how it’s dealing with an inflow of Ukraine refugees, instructed reporters.

Russia is in its second yr of a three-year time period on the 47-member Geneva-based council. Moscow’s mission to the United Nations in New York didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The council can not make legally binding selections however its selections ship necessary political messages and it could possibly authorise investigations.

It final month arrange an investigation into alleged rights violations, together with doable conflict crimes, in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. Thirty-two members voted in favour of the decision, introduced by Ukraine. Russia and Eritrea voted in opposition to whereas 13, together with China, abstained.

Bucha’s deputy mayor mentioned round 50 our bodies discovered after Kremlin forces withdrew had been the victims of extra-judicial killings carried out by Russian troops.

Reuters couldn’t independently confirm that info.

Ukrainian authorities mentioned they had been investigating doable conflict crimes there. The Kremlin categorically denied any accusations associated to the homicide of civilians within the city.

America has mentioned conflict crimes have been dedicated in Ukraine and U.S. consultants had been gathering proof to show it.

The Normal Meeting has beforehand suspended a rustic from the Human Rights Council. In March 2011, it unanimously suspended Libya due to violence in opposition to protesters by forces loyal to then chief Muammar Gaddafi.