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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. 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.

“UN member states sent a strong signal to Russia’s leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity doesn’t belong there,” said Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch. Russia was removed from the council in April 2022 in a diplomatic push led by the United States. The election for the coming term had been viewed as a test of Moscow’s diplomatic support amid fierce Western-led criticism over its brutal assault on its neighbour. Speaking ahead of the vote, Albanian Ambassador Ferit Hoxha said the UN General Assembly faced “an important choice” to “demonstrate that it is not ready to take an arsonist for a firefighter”.

The UN vote took place just days after a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian village of Hroza killed more than 50 people. “Russia can still boast that it got support from nearly half the UN’s members today,” noted Richard Gowan of the non-profit Crisis Group.

The UN vote took place just days after a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian village of Hroza killed more than 50 people. “Russia can still boast that it got support from nearly half the UN’s members today,” noted Richard Gowan of the non-profit Crisis Group.

“This does offer some support to Russia’s claim that its diplomatic isolation is gradually decreasing as many states are tiring of arguments over Ukraine.” But, he added, “Ukraine’s friends are still the most powerful force in the General Assembly”.