Russia Expects to Keep UN Rights Council Seat, Favors 'Non-Politicized Approach'

Russia expects to retain its seat on the United Nations’ Human Rights Council and hopes for a non-politicized approach to the panel’s work, Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters before a UN Security Council meeting Tuesday.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — On Monday, Human Rights Watch, Care International and about 80 other nongovernmental organizations issued a letter urging countries not to vote Russia onto the Human Rights Council due to the country’s policy on Syria.

“We are running and we expect we’ll win,” Churkin said. “Human rights are very important, and we are in favor of a non-politicized approach.”

According to Churkin, Russia has a good track record in its membership on the Council since it was first elected in 2006 and has much to contribute on an expert level.

On Friday, the UN General Assembly is scheduled to elect new members to the Council. Russia is vying with Hungary and Croatia to represent Eastern Europe on the panel.