Biden called Russia’s historic suspension from the UN Human Rights Council historic

President Joe Biden on Thursday applauded the “historic” vote to suspend Russia from the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling the decision a “meaningful step” in combating the country after its invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia’s lies are no match for the undeniable evidence of what is happening in Ukraine,” Biden said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. “That’s why nations in every region condemn Russia’s unprovoked and brutal aggression against Ukraine and support the brave people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom.”

The U.N. General Assembly voted earlier on Thursday to suspend Russia from the council over allegations of war crimes committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield launched the campaign to suspend Russia after images surfaced of torture and brutal killings of civilians in Bucha, near the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said the Bucha killings were evidence of “genocide,” while Biden and other world leaders said they constituted “war crimes.”

The vote to oust Russia from the council was 93-24 with 58 abstentions, a significantly lower figure than the 140-plus members that supported resolutions last month to blame Russia for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, protect civilians and call for an immediate cease-fire. A two-thirds majority was necessary for the vote to be successful.

On Wednesday, Russia warned countries that a “yes” vote would be viewed as an “unfriendly gesture” and threatened consequences. Prior to the vote Thursday, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the U.N., Gennady Kuzmin, cast blame on the United States as the aggressor.