Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Maria Zabolotskaya, stated that the United States is applying unprecedented pressure on member states to vote for Albania rather than Russia in the General Assembly during the UN Human Rights Council elections. The remarks were reported by a major news service.
She described the American campaign as a direct pressure tactic against Moscow, highlighting that Washington actively sought to influence delegations, sent messages, and held face-to-face meetings aimed at securing Albania’s victory. The diplomat emphasized that the United States was actively campaigning on Albania’s behalf.
Zabolotskaya characterized these actions as pressure and asserted that the intervention marked an unusual development in UN election lobbying. She noted that Russia had not been elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term. The General Assembly elections for new council members saw Albania, Bulgaria, and Russia competing to represent the Eastern European group. In the official tally, Albania received 123 votes, Bulgaria 160, and Russia 83.
Russia had previously served on the Human Rights Council starting in 2020. The country remained a member until April 2022, when the UN General Assembly suspended its participation in response to Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine. The suspension curtailed Russia’s ability to vote and speak within the Council during that period.
Following that hiatus, Russia formally terminated its powers in the Human Rights Council. Yet Moscow chose to re-enter the council in these current elections, aiming to counterbalance what it described as the shift toward a Russian Standing Committee. The UN mission referenced this objective while commenting on the unfolding process.
In related remarks, the political leadership in Belgrade outlined plans to continue developing relations with the Russian Federation, signaling broader regional implications tied to the evolving dynamics within the council and among Eastern European states.