US Threatened Countries Not to Vote for Russia's UNHRC Membership - Eritrean Envoy

© AP Photo / John MinchilloA completed resolution vote tally to affirm the suspension of the Russian Federation from the United Nations Human Rights Council is displayed during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, April 7, 2022, at THE United Nations headquarters.
A completed resolution vote tally to affirm the suspension of the Russian Federation from the United Nations Human Rights Council is displayed during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Thursday, April 7, 2022, at THE United Nations headquarters.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 12.10.2023
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UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - Earlier this week, Russia was unsuccessful in its bid to gain a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term.
The United States employed threats and other bullying tactics to discourage nations from voting in favor of Russia's bid to join the United Nations Human Rights Council, Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the UN Sophia Tesfamariam told Sputnik on Wednesday.
"The Human Rights Council elections yesterday does not reflect the will of the people. There were countries that were bullied, there were countries that were threatened to not vote for Russia," Tesfamariam said, adding that the US was the main country behind these pressure tactics.
Tesfamariam said the results of the vote indicate that a small number of countries "are allowed to run the system," a situation that could jeopardize UN's legitimacy, efficacy and credibility.
Earlier this week, Russia was unsuccessful in its bid to gain a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term. Within the group of Eastern European states, Albania and Bulgaria successfully secured spots with 123 and 160 votes, respectively, overshadowing Russia's 83 votes.
Following the vote, Maria Zabolotskaya, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, asserted that the US exercised substantial pressure on nations, urging them to favor Albania over Russia during the voting process.
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