the Council’s committee of ministers at a meeting in Helsinki, agreed on a compromise, which means that Russia is again allowed to vote in the organisation’s parliamentary assembly, Pace.
due to the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 was the Russian representatives the right to vote in the council of europe. Russia responded with a boycott and has for the past two years has not paid their part of the council’s annual budget.
pushed on to get to a compromise, while Ukraine has tried to block such.
In an official opinion beats the committee of ministers stated that “all member states should have the right to participate on an equal basis in the committee of ministers and the parliamentary assembly”. At the same time underlines that “one of the basic obligations” to which the member states have is to pay their part of the council’s budget.
In practice, it likely means that Russia be allowed to participate when the Council of europe’s new secretary general will be elected in June, which has been one of the country’s main requirements.
the council of europe lays down flat for Russia.
” We want Russia to stay in the council of europe, but we want Russia to follow its obligations and commitments in all decisions taken as a result of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, said Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian representative in the council of europe.
Russia, which warned of “far reaching consequences” in the event that you are not welcomed back, believe that the council of europe need Russia.
” We have no intention to leave the council of europe, says the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who adds that the council of europe “should realize” that you will not be able to ensure european security without Russian interference.
