CUBA regained a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday.

It is the sixth time that the socialist island has been elected to the body, on which it will serve from January 2024 until 2026.

Meanwhile, Russia failed in its bid to regain a seat on the council.

Cuba won one of the three seats allocated to the council’s Latin America and Caribbean group — topping the poll with 146 votes out of a possible 193 — with Brazil and the Dominican Republic taking the others and Peru losing out.

A Cuban Foreign Ministry statement said that Havana’s success in the election “has a special meaning for the defence of the interests of developing countries and towards the achievement of a just and equitable international order.”

The election showed that the international community recognises Cuba’s significant advances in the promotion and protection of human rights, the ministry added.

The statement said: “In Cuba, a broad, deep and comprehensive process of legislative reforms has taken place, which has included the strengthening of the legal and institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights.”

The election took place amid continuing global opposition to the  United States’ illegal blockade of Cuba and the island’s inclusion on the US State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Russia’s defeat followed its suspension from the council last year following the start of its invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow was competing against Albania and Bulgaria for the two seats of the East European regional group on the Geneva-based council.

In a secret ballot, Bulgaria polled 160 votes, Albania 123 and Russia 83.

Moscow’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused Washington of leading a campaign to prevent his country’s return to the council.

Diplomats at the UN reported that the US was behind a letter campaign urging general assembly members to vote against Russia.