Comments
On Thursday, May 12, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a resolution (A/HRC/S-34/L.1) to begin an investigation into whether war crimes have been committed by Russia in Ukraine. According to a UN press release, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 33 in favor, two against, and 12 abstentions. The Council reiterated its demand that hostilities be ceased and asked that the Independent International Commission of Inquiry begin an investigation into events taking place in late February and March in several regions in Ukraine. The resolution also implores Russia to give international human rights and humanitarian institutions "unrestricted and safe access to persons who had been transferred from conflict-affected areas of Ukraine and were held on the territory of the Russian Federation or areas controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation."