Russia fails to win re-election to U.N. Human Rights Council

Russia failed to win re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday, beaten out by Hungary and Croatia, following lobbying by rights groups against Moscow's candidacy because of its military support for the Syrian government.

In a secret ballot by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, Hungary received 144 votes, followed by Croatia with 114 votes and Russia with 112 votes. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow had faced good competition. 

"It was a very close vote," Churkin told reporters. "Croatia, Hungary - they are fortunate because of their size they are not as exposed to the winds of international diplomacy; Russia is quite exposed."  "We have been there a number of years, I'm sure next time we're going to get in," he said. 

Russian air power has been backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the country's nearly six-year war. A recent offensive to capture eastern Aleppo - the rebel-held half of Syria's largest city - has sparked international outrage.

Russia's three-year term on the 47-member Geneva-based Human Rights Council will finish on Dec. 31. It had been competing for a second three-year term. Council members cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.