Russia seeks to rejoin United Nations Human Rights Council

Russia is seeking to rejoin the United Nations Human Rights Council in an election that will be seen as a key test of its international standing. It was expelled from the UN's pre-eminent human rights body last April after its forces invaded Ukraine. 

But now Russian diplomats are seeking to get their country re-elected to the council for a fresh three-year term. The voting will take place next month. Diplomats said, Russia is hoping to regain some international credibility after



being accused of human rights abuses in Ukraine and within its own borders.

The UN human rights council is based in Geneva and has 47 members, each elected for a three-year term. In the next elections, due on 10th October, Russia will compete with Albania and Bulgaria for the two seats on the council reserved for central and eastern European countries. The voting will involve all 193 members of the UN General Assembly in New York.