In an audacious display of Chutzpah Russia is seeking to rejoin the United Nations human rights council in an election that will be seen as a key test of its international standing, the BBC reports.

It was expelled from the UN’s pre-eminent human rights body last April after its forces invaded Ukraine, and following a vote in which 93 nations voting in favour of expulsion and 24 against. Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Vietnam, were among those who voted against.

Prior to the vote, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya urged countries to support the resolution.

This is not the first time that a Member State has had its membership of the Human Rights Council suspended. Libya lost its seat in 2011, following repression of protests by ruler Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown.

But now Russian diplomats are seeking to get their country re-elected to the council for a fresh three-year term. The BBC has reportedly obtained a copy of the position paper Russia is circulating to UN members asking for their support.

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