Duma ready to process documents re Russia's withdrawal from Council of Europe as soon as they're submitted - deputy Slutsky

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - The State Duma is ready to immediately process bills renouncing the Council of Europe Statute and the European Human Rights Convention if they are submitted by the Russian president, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs Leonid Slutsky said.

"Should these documents be submitted, we are ready to process them immediately," Slutsky told Interfax on Friday.

The procedure implies renouncement of the Council of Europe Statute and the European Human Rights Convention, but the decision is up to the Russian president, he said.

"In this case, the president submits respective renouncement documents to the State Duma," Slutsky said.

Slutsky said at a Duma plenary meeting earlier on Friday that Russia should initiate the procedure of its withdrawal from the Council of Europe.