PACE discusses expelling Russia from the Council of Europe

NordenBladet —

The Estonian delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is taking part today and tomorrow in the work of the extraordinary plenary session of the Assembly in Strasbourg, France. The agenda includes a vote on the expulsion of Russia from the organisation.

According to the Head of the Estonian delegation to PACE Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Estonia is actively cooperating with our Nordic and Baltic colleagues (NB8) to expel Russia from the Council of Europe.

Jufereva-Skuratovski said that now that Russia was waging a large-scale war against Ukraine which kills and injures civilians and children, all delegates to the PACE must stand united and support the expulsion of the aggressor from this value-based organisation. “There is no justification for the regime which has caused the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the 21^st century, whose aftermath Europe will have to deal with for decades to come,” she stated.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will speak to the delegates today at 1 p.m. The discussion can be followed on the PACE web page: https://pace.coe.int/en/pages/session-20220314

If the PACE supports expelling Russia from the Council of Europe by a two thirds majority, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will decide in the next few days whether to request Russia to leave the Council of Europe or not.

Members of the Estonian delegation to the PACE Eerik-Niiles Kross and Raivo Tamm will also take part in the extraordinary plenary session of the PACE.

Source: Parliament of Estonia