Russia will leave UNHRC after its mandate expires in 2016
Russia’s non-election to the UN Human Rights Council will not affect the processes of improving human rights in Russia, the country’s human rights ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova told reporters on Oct. 29.
"I take the situation with Russia’s non-election to the UN Human Rights Council first of all as temporary, and, secondly, it cannot anyway affect the positive processes of improving human rights in the Russian Federation," said Moskalkova.
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It was earlier reported that Russia was not re-elected to UNHRC and will leave it after its mandate expires at the end of 2016. During the voting that took place at UN General Assembly on Friday, Russia’s candidacy was supported by 112 member countries, while its rivals in the East European group - Hungary and Croatia - earned 144 and 114 votes respectively.
In total, 14 HRC members were elected for the three-year term. From the African group, Egypt, Rwanda and Tunisia were elected; from the Asia Pacific group - Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia and Japan; from Latin American group - Brazil and Cuba; from West European and other countries group - UK and US.
Fifteen countries will remain members of HRC until the end of 2017, including India, Nigeria and Latvia. At the end of 2018, mandates will expire for 18 countries, including Venezuela, Germany, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, United Arab Emirates and South Korea.
Source: TASS