In this file photo dated Jan 6, 2023, Russian national flag waves at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

MOSCOW - Despite losing its seat on the Council of the UN International Maritime Organization, Russia will remain a committed member and pay its dues, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Russia had been a regular member of the IMO Council since the organization's establishment but failed to secure enough votes in the election held in December 2023 at the 33rd session of the Assembly.

The ministry blamed the "unprecedented political pressure" exerted by Western countries on the IMO member states who voted in the election while stressing that Russia will continue to cooperate with the IMO.

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"Russian experts will continue to cooperate closely with the IMO on all aspects of trade navigation, especially the issue of introducing autonomous navigation, which is of great interest to Russia," the ministry said.

Earlier, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Russia is a leader in developing and applying autonomous navigation technologies and closely follows the topic on various international platforms, including the IMO, where it is a priority issue.