Russia Seeks UN Human Rights Council Seat

Russia has put forward its candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) after the United States withdrew from participation in the Geneva-based body halfway through its three-year term.

Russia has put forward its candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) after the United States withdrew from participation in the Geneva-based body halfway through its three-year term.

Russia’s mission to the UN accused the U.S. of attempting to turn the council into a "tool to promote only their interests," and said it would continue to work with the 47-member body, The Moscow Times and Reuters reports.

"It was in that spirit that Russia nominated its candidacy for the 2021-2023 HRC membership elections," the mission said in a statement.

The UN Human Rights Council was founded in 2006.

Russia lost its reelection to a seat on the council in 2016, after rights groups successfully lobbied against its cand
idacy because of Russian military support for the Syrian government.