The Council of Europe suspends Russia’s participation in all bodies of the organization

The statement was made by PACE President Tiny Kox at a press conference in Strasbourg.

The Joint Committee of the Council of Europe, which brings together the PACE leadership, the representatives of the member states and the Secretary General of the organization, recommends that an exclusive procedure be applied to Russia, leading to the exclusion of this state from the organization.

This was stated by PACE President Tiny Kox at a press conference in Strasbourg, reports "European Pravda".

Tiny Kox said that during the meeting of the Joint Committee there was a consensus on a decision to be formally adopted later this day: "I have been in the PACE for a long time and for the first time I see such unity at all levels. The decision is up to the Committee of Ministers, but expected outcome is Article 8 – suspension of Russia's participation in all bodies of the Council of Europe ".

Formally, this decision should be made by the CoE Committee of Ministers, which will meet in the evening, but Kox has repeatedly stressed that only one option is being considered.

"Having started the war against Ukraine, Russia has replied that it cannot be part of our organization," Kox said.

It is worth noting that Tiny Kox is considered one of the most pro-Russian members of the PACE. So far he has systematically defended Russia's interests in all situations, in particular, was an advocate for lifting sanctions against Russia in PACE in 2019. But this time he spoke strongly about the inadmissibility of Russia's actions and its incompatibility with the principles of organization.