RUSSIA LOSES BID TO REGAIN SEAT ON THE UN'S TOP HUMAN RIGHTS BODY

Russia was defeated in its bid to regain a seat in the U.N.’s premiere human rights body by a significant majority in Tuesday’s election in the General Assembly, which voted last year to suspend Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

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Russia was competing against Albania and Bulgaria for two seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council representing the East European regional group. In the secret ballot vote, Bulgaria got 160 votes, Albania received 123 votes and Russia just 83 votes.

Russia has claimed that it has support from a silent majority, and even though 83 votes came from less than half the 193 U.N. member nations, there is certain to be a concern, especially by Ukraine and its Western allies, that Moscow’s support was that high.

“I think the Russians will be pleased that they persuaded a sizable minority of U.N. members to back them (which) suggests that Moscow is not a total pariah in the U.N. system, despite repeated Western criticism,” Richard Gowan, U.N. director of the International Crisis Group.