Russia failed to regain its seat on the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday during an election at the General Assembly, which voted last year to suspend Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow was competing against Albania and Bulgaria for two seats on the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to represent the Eastern European regional group.
In the secret ballot, Bulgaria secured 160 votes, while Albania received 123. Russia obtained 83 votes.
During a Security Council session on Monday, Russia's top UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya accused the US of spearheading efforts to hinder Russia's re-entry to the human rights body.
US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told council members on Monday that Russia’s re-election to the council “would be an ugly stain that would undermine the credibility of the institution and the United Nations”.
The other regional races were not competitive.
China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia were elected to represent the Asian group.
Burundi, Malawi, Ghana and Ivory Coast were elected to hold four African seats, while France and the Netherlands will take two western seats.
Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, said member states sent a strong signal to Russia’s leadership that a government responsible for countless war crimes and crimes against humanity does not belong on the Human Rights Council.
The New York-based rights organisation said Russian forces in Ukraine continue to commit war crimes, including torture and summary executions.
Ukraine-Russia conflict latest - in pictures
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A soldier on alert near the front line in Andriivka, 10km south of the Russian-occupied city of Bakhmut. AP -
An assault unit commander raises the Ukrainian flag as a symbol of liberation of the frontline village of Andriivka. AP -
Ukrainian emergency teams out a fire in Lviv. EPA -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Staten Island University Hospital, New York, where some Ukrainian soldiers are being treated for injuries sustained in the war. Reuters -
A Ukrainian farmer surveys a destroyed grain depot on his land near the frontline town of Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia region. EPA -
Schoolchildren learn to handle rifles at a military centre in Lviv. AFP -
A Ukrainian soldier fires a howitzer towards Russian troops in Donetsk region. Reuters -
A sombre funeral ceremony for a Ukrainian soldier killed in Polonne, Khmelnytskyi region. AP -
Ukrainian heavy armoured vehicles are driven into position in Donetsk region. Reuters -
A Ukrainian cadet carries a machinegun below the Motherland Monument in Kyiv. Bloomberg
