Russia won't leave PACE, but will not work there until sanctions are lifted - Pushkov
MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - Russia will not leave the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, but will not work there either until the sanctions are lifted," Alexei Pushkov, the head of the State Duma committee on international affairs, said.
"There are media reports stating that Russia is going to leave PACE. This is not the case. However, Russia will not agree to work in PACE until the sanctions are lifted," Pushkov said on Twitter.
Serious sanctions were imposed on the Russian delegation in PACE at the spring session of PACE in Strasbourg over the situation in Crimea. The Russian delegation was deprived of all leadership positions in PACE and the right to vote in sessions and Russia parliamentarian are now unable to participate in observer missions. This decision was made at the PACE session in April. After that, the Russian delegation suspended its work in PACE until the end of this year.