UNITED NATIONS: Cambodia was among the 58 countries that abstained from the United Nations (UN) General Assembly vote on the suspension of Russia from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday (7 April). At the final count, 93 countries voted for the suspension, and 24 voted against.

Abstentions in elections indicate a willingness to remain silent and neither support or oppose a certain decision.

Among the ASEAN member states, Cambodia is not the only country that abstained from the vote; six other countries also chose to abstain, while Vietnam and Laos voted against, and the Philippines and Myanmar supported the removal of Russia.

EAC News could not reach Foreign Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry for comment.

The UN General Assembly on Thursday voted to suspend Russia from the UNHRC over reports of “gross and systemic violations and abuses of human rights” in Ukraine. Shortly after, Moscow announced that it was quitting the body.

Following the election, Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Gennady Kuzmin, described the move as "illegal and politically motivated", thus Russia decided to leave the UNHRC altogether.