Russia continues to be represented on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, recalled the head of the international Committee of the state Duma Alexei Pushkov. He expressed confidence that the Minister of foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov will take part in the activities of the COE.
MOSCOW, 20 Jan. The non-participation of Russia in the PACE does not mean the cessation of contact with the Council of Europe, said the head of the Russian delegation in the Assembly, the President of the international Committee of the state Duma Alexei Pushkov.
On Tuesday, the President of PACE Anne Brasseur said that the refusal of the Russian delegation to participate in the PACE winter session will automatically void its powers on all 2016. About the refusal of the Russian delegation, which from spring 2014 devoid of powers in PACE, to apply for the January session of the Assembly announced 18 January, the Chairman of the state Duma Sergey Naryshkin. Russia has repeatedly stated that he would return to PACE only when removed from the delegations of all sanctions.
“The participation this year in the PACE… it does not mean the end of our contacts with the Council of Europe,” said Pushkov journalists. He stressed that any rupture with the Council of Europe no.
Pushkov reminded that Russia is still represented on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at the level of Ambassador, continues the work of the Russian mission in Strasbourg. “I am sure that the Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia will participate in relevant activities of the Council of Europe, as he took in 2015”, continued the MP.
“We continue to work in the European court of human rights, that is no break with the Council of Europe here. It is only a temporary suspension of our work PACE because PACE is not ready to cancel sanctions against the Russian delegation,” — said Russian Deputy.
