Russia has been soundly defeated in three separate United Nations votes. The loss, which comes more than a year into the Russia-Ukraine war, demonstrates that the international community continues to oppose Moscow’s choice to attack Ukraine. Vladimir Putin’s country was defeated during votes in the UN Economic and Social Council, which has 54 members (ECOSOC). The first “resounding setback” came from Romania in the race for a seat on the Commission on the Status of Women. Estonia defeated Russia in the race for the executive board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Furthermore, in a secret ballot, Armenia and the Czech Republic beat the country for membership in the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
According to AFP, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated following Wednesday’s votes that the results are a “clear signal from ECOSOC members that no country should hold positions on critical UN bodies when they are in flagrant violation of the UN Charter.”
Russia elected to UN Commission for social development and Intergovernmental Group of Experts despite defeat for key seats
While Russia was defeated for the aforementioned key seats, the country was elected to the Commission for Social Development by acclamation in the voting for members of the 14 commissions, boards, and expert groups that ECOSOC monitors. According to reports, the United States and the United Kingdom have withdrawn from the commission. According to the two countries, Russia’s invasion violates international law and Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Moscow has also been elected to the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Accounting and Reporting Standards.
News agency AP reports that the UN Economic and Social Council votes come after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved six non-binding resolutions condemning Russia. On the eve of the first anniversary of the Ukraine War, the 193-member UNGA passed the most recent resolution. It was approved by a vote of 141-7 with 32 abstentions and it urges on Moscow to halt hostilities and evacuate its forces.