Russia has formally sought to rejoin the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Notably, this comes 18 months after it was suspended from the body following its invasion of Ukraine.

The country has been listed on the UN website as a candidate for the election of members of the council for the 2024-2026 term, with a vote due to take place on October 10, reported CNN. 

The idea of reinstating Russia would be met with outrage from the West as several leading NATO states have insisted that Moscow’s illegal invasion of a neighbouring state should disqualify

it from membership in international bodies. In the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Russia has violated several human rights resolutions in the span of more than one year.   In Russia's

United Nations systems.” According to CNN, Russia has been circulating the position paper to UN members to drum up support.  > The Russian Position paper has stated  that Moscow “believes

 it > is important to prevent the increasing trend of turning the Human > Rights Council into the instrument, which serves political wills of > one group of countries punishing 

non-loyal governments for their > independent internal and external policy.” >  > The paper also claimed that it would strongly promote" principles of > cooperation and 

strengthening of constructive mutually respectful > dialogue” if re-elected to the body.  Even after the circulated position paper, there is a higher possibility that Western countries

would strongly oppose its application ahead of October’s vote. Meanwhile, as per the Human Rights Council Commission, there has been strong evidence that Russian forces have been “committing

war crimes in Ukraine.” The commission has also specified the crimes committed by Russia, which include “unlawful attacks with explosive weapons, attacks harming civilians, torture, sexual

and gender-based violence, and attacks on energy infrastructure.”