The expert would collect, examine and assess information from all relevant stakeholders and present a written report to the human rights council and to the general assembly in New York. The examination will take into account Russian civil society working in or outside of the country. The expert is set to cooperate with other existing UN human rights mechanisms. The report, featuring recommendations, will be presented to the UNHRC and the UN general assembly at their 54^th and 78^th sessions in 2023.

All EU members, bar Hungary, in support

A deterioration of the respect for human rights in Russia was cited by the UN body as the reason for launching this investigation. The resolution was adopted by 17 votes in favour, 6 against and 24 abstentions. The motion was supported by nearly 50 countries including the UK, the US, Ukraine, Japan, Colombia and all EU member states except for Hungary. China, Venezuela, Cuba, Eritrea, Bolivia and Kazakhstan voted against. The launch of the human rights examination is the first time one of the UN’s permanent members is being assessed. Earlier this year the UN ordered an assessment of violations by Russian troops in Ukraine.

Luxembourg who led the proposal for the investigation “accepted the task, notably for institutional and political reasons,” states a press release by the foreign affairs ministry. The grand duchy has highlighted supporting the rule of law, civic space and human rights as some of its priorities during its mandate at the UNHRC from 2022 to 2024.

Russian and China react

After the proposal was first tabled in September, Russia made a plea to UN member states to reject the proposal, calling it politically biased. The Russian mission in Geneva declared that Western countries had long used "the human rights agenda as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign States," according to AFP. After the motion was voted in Russia and China both criticised the countries behind it. "This draft resolution is one more example of how Western countries are using this council to obtain their political goals," said Russia's ambassador to the UN in Geneva according to Reuters. Meanwhile China's envoy Yang Zhilun, accused Western countries of applying double standards, referencing issues regarding racism and migrants.

The UN is going through a spell characterized by division within its ranks. The passing of motion to examine human rights abuses in Russia comes as good news for the West after the UNHRC rejected a debate on China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims which was brought by the US, UK and Canada among others.