December 20, Pozirk. Belarus and 14 other nations voted against the resolution on human rights in Crimea and other Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine adopted yesterday by the UN General Assembly.
In doing so, Minsk once again demonstrated its unwavering support for the Kremlin.
Delegations from Burundi, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Honduras, Iran, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe also opposed the resolution. The document received 78 “Yes” votes and 79 abstentions.
According to the UN website, the resolution condemned the Russian occupation and reaffirmed the non-recognition of the annexation. The UN General Assembly condemned Russia for violating its international obligations and attacking Ukraine.
Commenting on the resolution, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Moscow to stop deporting Ukrainian children, provide UN agencies and international organizations with a list of displaced minors, and ensure their safe return.
At least 2,442 children aged between six and 17 have been taken from Ukraine to Belarus since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022, researchers from the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) said in November.
“Russia’s systematic effort to identify, collect, transport, and re-educate Ukraine’s children has been facilitated by Belarus,” researchers said, noting the responsibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian ruler Alaksandar Łukašenka.
