MOSCOW, January 13. The leadership of the Parliament of the Russian Federation on January 15 to announce the decision to participate in the January session of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). This was stated to journalists by the head of the Duma Committee on international Affairs Alexei Pushkov.
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“As to the final wording of the position of the Russian side for the participation of the delegation (in the January session of the Assembly) and on whether the Federal Assembly to request the submission of credentials of the Russian delegation from the PACE, the decision will be made before the end of the week,” he informed, noting that the Russian Parliament has not yet applied to PACE with a request to the authority.
“As you know, this issue is now resolved, yet no such decision. If the Russian side asks for credentials, no restrictions, no sanctions against us could be made”, – said Pushkov.
He explained that “the extension of sanctions (PACE) against the Russian delegation will be possible only if the leadership of the Federal Assembly will turn to PACE with a request for credentials of the Russian delegation”. “If such a request is not, and within the PACE will not be subject to review restrictions: if the delegation of authority does not request, what limit?” – added the MP. He suggested that “on Friday (January 15) will already be publicly announced the decision would be taken by the leadership of the Federal Assembly”.
The Russian delegation in PACE in April 2014, was stripped of its powers because of the events in Ukraine and the reunification of the Crimea with Russia. In 2015 the Assembly has twice adopted a decision on the possible restoration of the Russian delegation in the rights, but restrictions remain: Russia deprived of voting rights and participation in decision-making bodies of the PACE. In connection with these sanctions, the Russian delegation suspended its participation in the activities of the PACE until the end of the year.
PACE winter session will be held in Strasbourg from 25 to 29 January 2016.
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