Russia loses election to UN Human Rights Council

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia on Friday, October 28 failed to win re-election at the United Nations Human Rights Council in a vote rights groups said reflected international disapproval of Moscow's involvement in the war in Syria, AFP reports.

The UN General Assembly elected Hungary and Croatia instead to represent eastern Europe at the 47-nation council, which monitors and investigates rights violations worldwide.

The outcome was an upset for Russia, which has been a member for all but one year since the council was set up in 2006.

Asked about the defeat, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin quipped: "We need a break."

"Croatia and Hungary fortunately, because of their size, they are not as exposed to the winds of international diplomacy. Russia is quite exposed," he said.

"We have been there a number of years. I am sure next time we are going to get it."

More than 80 human rights and aid organizations had urged UN member-states to vote Russia off the council for its military support of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's bloody civil war.

Russia has been accused by Western powers and rights groups of indiscriminate bombings in the Syrian government operation to seize rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

Some 250,000 civilians in east Aleppo have been living under siege since July and food rations are expected to run out soon, the United Nations has warned.