Russia denied return to UN Human Rights Council

Reuters reported the information.

The UN General Assembly did not return Russia to the main UN human rights body. During the vote in New York, Russia lost to Albania and Bulgaria.

Albania received 123 votes, Bulgaria - 160, and Russia - 83.

The UN Human Rights Council consists of 47 voting members from five regional groups. They are elected for three years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms. Countries are admitted to the UN Human Rights Council by secret ballot at the UN General Assembly in New York. 

The body is the main forum for discussion and cooperation on human rights. It carries out general research, prepares recommendations and drafts international legal acts in the field of human rights protection, and hears reports from specially created subsidiary bodies.

Russia's return to the UN Human Rights Council: details

On April 7, 2022, the UN General Assembly suspended Russia's membership in the UN Human Rights Council.

In September, 2023  Russian diplomats were trying to ensure that Russia was re-admitted to the UN Human Rights Council for a three-year term. However, the US Department of State believes that Russia's representation in the body is inconsistent with its actions in Ukraine.

The former chairman of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania said that Russia could be de facto expelled from the UN by refusing to recognize the powers of its representatives. Such a precedent was set in the case of South Africa.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko also emphasized that Russia should not be allowed to return to the UN Human Rights Council until it is held accountable for all its crimes.

According to him, by trying to return to the UN Human Rights Council, Russia is trying to prove that it can "continue to grossly violate human rights, commit war crimes and crimes against humanity with impunity."