(United Nations) Russia failed on Tuesday to regain a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, from which it had been excluded after its invasion of Ukraine, however gathering, with 83 votes, more support than Ukraine and its allies should not have hoped for this.
“UN member states have sent a clear response to the Kremlin regarding its aggression, war crimes, and atrocities committed during its large-scale invasion of Ukraine,” welcomed the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Affairs foreigners Eminé Djeppar on X (formerly Twitter).
However, “Russia can boast of having been supported by almost half” of the 193 UN member states, commented Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.
“This supports Russia’s claims that its diplomatic isolation is gradually decreasing while many states are tiring of debates around Ukraine,” he declared, even if “Ukraine’s friends remain the most powerful force.”
The UN General Assembly renewed on Tuesday, for the period 2024-2026, 15 of the 47 members of the Human Rights Council which sits in Geneva.
While the states are divided by major region, each regional group generally pre-selects its candidates who are then approved without difficulty by the General Assembly.
But this year, two groups had more candidates than seats: Latin America (4 candidates for 3 seats) and Eastern Europe (3 candidates for 2 seats).
A few days after the Russian strike on the Ukrainian village of Groza where 52 people were killed, all eyes were on the Russian candidacy.
Despite a secret ballot which raised some concern among Westerners, Bulgaria and Albania were ultimately elected, with 160 and 123 votes respectively. Russia received 83 votes.
“We are relieved that voting states agree that (Russia) cannot legitimately have a seat” on this Council, said Madeleine Sinclair of the International Service for Human Rights.
Human rights defenders and Western diplomats had warned in recent days against Russia’s re-election.
The General Assembly “has an important choice to make, to prove that it is not ready to confuse an arsonist and a firefighter,” Albanian Ambassador to the UN Ferit Hoxha said on Monday.
China, Cuba, Burundi
A re-election of Russia “would be a horrible stain that would undermine the credibility” of the United Nations, added Deputy United States Ambassador Robert Wood.
Russia defended itself. “There is no model of democracy or rogue state,” its UN ambassador Vassili Nebenzia recently declared. “No member state can claim to be immune from human rights violations.”
In October 2020, Russia was elected to the Human Rights Council for three years with 158 votes – Ukraine won the other seat with 166 votes – but the General Assembly voted for its “suspension” in April 2022 (93 votes for, 24 against, 58 abstentions).
This majority against Russia was less overwhelming than that of the resolutions defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine (around 140 votes), but the question of the Human Rights Council was more complex, certain countries with questionable records in matter fearing to one day suffer the same fate.
Human rights defenders have also denounced the election or re-election of several other countries, in particular China, accused of violations of the rights of the Uyghur minority.
But China was not risking anything with four candidates for four Asian seats. However, she came fourth, with 154 votes. “This suggests that if there had been a competition in the Asia group, China would have lost and that should have happened,” insisted Louis Charbonneau of Human Rights Watch, calling for a real competition for these seats.
Other countries singled out by NGOs: Cuba, re-elected with 146 votes, and Burundi, elected with 168 votes.
The 15 members of the Council elected or re-elected for the period 2024-2026 are Malawi (182), Ivory Coast (181), Ghana (179), Burundi (168), Indonesia (186), Kuwait (183), Japan ( 175), China (154), Bulgaria (160), Albania (123), Brazil (144), Cuba (146), Dominican Republic (137), Netherlands (169) and France (153).
“It is slightly embarrassing that France had one vote less than China,” noted Richard Gowan.