CoE's report on language studies in Russia is argument in favor of withdrawal - MP Nikonov
MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Russia should leave the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in part because of the biased CoE report on violations of the right to study native tongues in Russia, State Duma Education Committee Chairman Vyacheslav Nikonov said.
"I see this report as another argument in favor of our immediate withdrawal from the Council of Europe. [We should also leave] the Parliamentary Assembly, which has turned into a place where Russia is constantly scolded. We have nothing to do there," Nikonov said at a Duma meeting on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the Council of Europe published a 58-page report alleging violations of the right to study native tongues in Russia, he said.
"We are aware of our problems, but I can assure you that nothing written in this report of the Council of Europe corresponds to reality. Especially since the Council of Europe pays no attention to violations of the right to study native tongues and to receive education in native languages in the Baltic republics and Ukraine," Nikonov said.