Russia, which was expelled from the UN Human Rights Council last year, is seeking to rejoin the Geneva-based body, defying Western efforts to isolate the country over its aggression in Ukraine.
Some UN diplomats and analysts say Russia is seeking to use its control over wartime grain shipments and arms and energy sales to win support in a secret vote scheduled for Tuesday. In addition to Russia, Albania and Bulgaria are competing for the two seats representing Eastern Europe.
"Some countries may not feel comfortable voting openly for Russia, but if they can get food, arms and oil, they may vote for Russia," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of U.N. Watch, a nonprofit group that monitors the United Nations.
Russian diplomats have accused the United States of unfairly supporting Albania and putting pressure on Africa to drum up votes for the Balkan country.
Alexander Pchelyakov, a spokesman for the Russian mission in Geneva, said accusations that Russia was using arms and grain sales as leverage in the vote were "nothing more than a lazy propaganda attempt to discredit Russia in front of left-wing readers."