Russia has decided to leave the Council of Europe and renounce the Convention on Human Rights, according to the office of the body’s secretary general, Croatian Marija Pejcinovic, on Tuesday (15). “We separate without regret from this Council of Europe”, indicates the official note of the Russian government.
The decision is based on article 7 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, which allows any member to “withdraw, notifying the decision to the secretary-general”. Moscow’s announcement was made public during an extraordinary hearing of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which will put to a vote a statement demanding Russia’s departure. If the country decided to remain in the organization, its expulsion would be put on the agenda.
A similar episode occurred years ago, when the Council Chamber recommended the expulsion from Greece, due to a coup d’état. However, Athena stepped forward and asked to leave. Russia could extend its stay until the end of the year, if Article 7 were to be applied literally. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe had decided, on February 25, to suspend Russia’s participation in the organization, shortly after the invasion. from Ukraine.
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