Iraq abstains from voting against Russia in UN resolution

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq abstained from voting for a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Calling for condemning "in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine," the non-binding resolution was overwhelmingly adopted in favor of Ukraine and its allies, with 141 out of the 193 members of the UN General Assembly voting for it. 

Only five countries – Syria, Belarus, Eritrea, Russia, and North Korea – voted against the resolution, which called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces that launched an invasion of Ukraine last week. 

Thirty-five countries abstained, including Iraq. 

Rounds of sanctions have been imposed on Russia by the European Union, the US, and the UK for its invasion. 

Before it was torn down by the Iraqi National Security Service, a giant poster of Russian Vladimir Putin was spotted in Baghdad's Jadriyah neighborhood by pedestrians on Wednesday night. 

The Iraqi Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militia had erected the billboard in front of its office, according to information obtained by Kurdistan 24.

The Russian Embassy in Baghdad approvingly tweeted a photo of the poster with the caption: "On the streets of Baghdad". 

На улицах Багдада 🇮🇶 pic.twitter.com/sdjFUWJVvf

— Russia in Iraq (@RusEmbassyIraq) March 2, 2022