The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CE) suspended the membership of the Russian Federation in the organization. But without Russia, it simply will not be needed, since it remains the largest country in Europe. This was stated by Vice Speaker of the State Duma, head of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pyotr Tolstoy.
Earlier, Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki said that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe launched a procedure for suspending Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe.
According to Tolstoy, a meeting of the CE Standing Committee was held, where the Russian delegation tried to convey Moscow’s position on the situation around Ukraine.
“The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe refused to cooperate with Russia, suspending our country’s membership in this organization,” the parliamentarian said.
At the same time, he stressed that without Russia – the largest country in Europe – the work of the Council of Europe simply loses its meaning.
Indeed, without the largest European country, this organization, according to him, will simply be impossible and not needed. “Because there will be no truth in it,” said Tolstoy.
Now, the politician believes, the resumption of dialogue with Russia will depend on the Council of Europe. “We, Russians, are not going to change,” the vice-speaker emphasized.
He added that Russia itself has repeatedly called for dialogue. In particular, for a long time she asked to respond to human rights violations in Ukraine, but “European solidarity did not allow this.”
The statement of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe specified that Russia’s rights were suspended, but it remains a member of the organization and a party to its conventions. This includes the European Convention on Human Rights.