Photо: tvc.ru
As long as The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe keeps practicing sanctions against national delegations, there are no grounds for Russia to rejoin this structure.This was declared in the statement which Federation Council members approved on January 16, Rossiyskaya Gazeta informs.
According to the document, Moscow is not going to apply for reaffirming the authority of Russian delegation on the next session of PACE.
In so doing, Russian parliamentarians are open for the dialogue with national Parliaments belonging to PACE and bodies of the Council of Europe. It is in the interests of the Council of Europe’s returning to the position of the organisation, which is based on the principles of the equality of its members and respectful attitude to democratic values.
Speaker of Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, in turn, added that Russia does not plan to pay contribution to the Council of Europe.
As Russkiy Mir informed, PACE has decided to deprive the right to vote and other authorities of Russian representatives on sessions due to the situation in Crimea. After that, Russia refused to pay membership dues until delegation’s rights would be restored.
At the same time, Council of Europe is concerned that Russia might leave the organization. According to Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland, Europe is ready to consider lifting of sanctions.
Russkiy Mir
