In a secret ballot at the United Nations on the election of two new members of the UN Human Rights Council, which took place at the General Assembly in New York, Bulgaria received 160 votes, Albania – 123, and Russia – 83.

Russia failed in its bid to return to the United Nations' top human rights body on Tuesday, with rivals (Bulgaria and Romania – editorial note) winning considerably more votes at the General Assembly in an election seen as a key test of Western efforts to keep Moscow isolated, Reuters writes. Russia was ousted from the council 18 months ago in a US-led diplomatic push following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.The United Nations Human Rights Council has 47 voting members from five regional groups. They are elected for three years for a maximum period of two consecutive terms. In this vote, 17 countries competed for 15 seats starting from 2024-2026. The body does not have legally binding powers but its meetings raise scrutiny and it can mandate investigations to document abuses, which sometimes form the basis for war crimes prosecutions, Reuters writes further.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported Bulgaria’s bid. The country’s election to the Council comes as recognition of its active human rights policy,” said Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel.