Thirteen countries, including India and China, abstained from the voting.
In a major blow to Moscow, the UN Human Rights Council on Friday voted for a high-level inquiry into violations committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began last week. However, 13 countries, including India and China, abstained from voting.
The vote paves the way for the creation of an independent international inquiry commission – the highest level of inquiry that can be ordered by the Council – "to investigate all alleged violations and abuses in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine .. . "", reported the news agency AFP.
At least 32 of the 47-member council voted to set up the highest-level inquiry into alleged rights violations, AFP reported. Russia and Eritrea voted against the proposal.
"I thank all those who voted for the right cause," AFP quoted Ukraine's ambassador as saying.
Friday's vote called for the appointment of three investigators to "establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of any breaches and abuses" and to gather evidence "to ensure that those responsible are held accountable." "
The recent blow to Russia follows its rebuke from the UN General Assembly issued on Wednesday - with a 141-5 vote - for condemning Moscow's invasion and calling for an immediate withdrawal.
The Council in Geneva strongly condemned the "human rights violations and violations and violations of international humanitarian law as a result of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine".
The text, presented by Kyiv, called for a "quick and verifiable withdrawal of Russian Federation troops and Russian-backed armed groups from the entire territory of Ukraine".