The Czech Republic will take Russia’s seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council until December 31, 2023.

The UN General Assembly voted for this decision, the UN Council reports on Twitter.

“The UN General Assembly elected the Czech Republic to the seat on the Human Rights Council vacated by Russia in April 2022. The Czech Republic will retain this seat until December 31, 2023,” the message says.

The Czech Republic was the only candidate for this seat from the group of Eastern European countries. The Czech Republic needed a majority of 97 votes to pass the decision. She was supported by 157 delegates.

The HR is an intergovernmental body of the UN system. It was created in 2006, replacing the Commission on Human Rights. The council includes 47 states, each of which is elected by the General Assembly for three years by a majority vote by direct secret ballot.

Recall, on April 7, the General Assembly approved the suspension of Russia’s membership in the UNHRC after reports of massacres by Russian occupiers of civilians in Ukraine.

Russia had previously threatened that voting for or keeping it would be seen as an “unfriendly gesture” with repercussions for bilateral ties.

At the same time, immediately after the vote, Moscow announced that it was terminating its powers in the UN Human Rights Council ahead of schedule.

Earlier, Russia was expelled from the UN World Tourism Organization.

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