(AFP News Agency, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 10th) Russia lost its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council after invading Ukraine. The United Nations General Assembly today frustrated Russia’s hope of returning to the Human Rights Council.
Russia, Bulgaria and Albania competed for two seats in the Eastern European Region of the United Nations Human Rights Council. However, Russia received only 83 votes among the 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly and was unable to win the seat. Bulgaria and Albania received 160 and 123 votes in favor respectively.
The West has taken the lead in criticizing Russia for attacking neighboring Ukraine, but Russia claims to have private support from many countries. The election of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term is regarded as a touchstone to test Russia’s claims.
Russia only recently launched a missile attack on the Ukrainian village of Groza, killing more than 50 people, but the global focus has since turned to the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas.
Louis Charbonneau, the UN director of the international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch, said: “UN member states are sending a strong message to the Russian leadership that a government that has committed countless war crimes and crimes against humanity He does not deserve to be on the Human Rights Council.”
Albania’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ferit Hoxha, said earlier that the General Assembly “has an important choice” to “show that it is not ready to allow arsonists to serve as firefighters.”
Richard Gowan, a U.N. affairs expert at the International Crisis Group, said Western diplomats are worried that Russia may return.
Gowan also said: “Russia has always maintained that many UN members sympathize with Russia privately, but will not express support publicly for fear of angering Western powers. The Moscow authorities will hope that this silent majority will support Russia in this secret vote.”
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2023-10-11 07:11:48
