Russia Fails to Regain UN Human Rights Council Seat After Ukraine Invasion

Russia failed to regain its seat on the UN Human Rights Council, losing to Albania and Bulgaria for the 2 open seats.

Russia received only 83 votes, far below the 123 and 160 that Albania and Bulgaria received.

Russia was removed from the Council in April 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine. The motion passed with 93 votes in favor.

There were concerns Russia would leverage grain, arms, and energy sales to gain votes, but this strategy failed.

Russia has committed human rights violations in Ukraine including murder of civilians, shelling civilian areas, torture, sexual violence, and abducting children.