Can Russia be expelled from the UN Security Council?

Russia can only be thrown out of the Security Council if Moscow agrees to its own expulsion.

The Council would have to recommend Russia’s removal, which would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the 193-state General Assembly.

The recommendation could be blocked by the “P5” veto, which Russia would surely wield.

Even if Moscow decided to leave, experts speculate that China could move to prevent the expulsion of its close ally.

Even if Russia did leave the Council, it would still retain its place in the General Assembly.

No country has been expelled from the United Nations since it was founded in 1945.

The US and Britain have called for Russia to be suspended from the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, which is a more realistic prospect.

Russia is in the second of its three-year term on the council and removing it would need the support of at least two thirds of the General Assembly, which has passed two resolutions condemning the invasion of Ukraine.

A motion for removal can be made if a country persistently commits human rights violations during its membership.

Is the UN Security Council effective?

It can be, but it isn’t always. If a country breaks a UN resolution it can face sanctions, embargoes and military action. The UN cannot put these into action itself and must rely on its members to take action. 

The Council can order international peacekeeping missions. Some of these are credited with helping crisis-hit countries and strengthening new and fragile state institutions. 

UN peacekeeping has been hailed as a success in countries such as Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mozambique, Namibia and Tajikistan. 

It has also made a difference in places such as Sierra Leone, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Timor-Leste, Liberia, Haiti and Kosovo. 

The UN itself admits its peacekeeping efforts were “found wanting” in Somalia, Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.