PACE will not return powers to Russia

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe refused to return the right to vote to Russia, reports . RBC

128 people voted "for" the resolution, prepared by the head of the commission, Stefan Schennach, 11 - "against".

Schennach opposed the complete abolition of Russia's powers, he believes that in this way Europe will lose the ability to control the situation around Ukraine. “If we don't do anything to take advantage of all the international instruments, then there will be another frozen conflict in addition to those that already exist,” Schennach says.

According to the head of the commission, the conditions that Russia must fulfill in order to regain the right to vote in PACE have been expanded. Thus, representatives of the assembly announced the immediate release of the Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko and the cessation of the persecution of Russian activists, NGOs and the media, which are critical of Russia's actions in Ukraine.

In addition, the resolution included amendments by the Ukrainian side, accusing Russia of violating the February Minsk agreements.

At the end of January, Stefan Schennach promised to return Russia to PACE. “I am absolutely convinced that without Russia there can be no peace in Europe,” the parliamentarian said at the time.

In January, Russia lost the right to vote, as well as the opportunity to participate in the governing structures of the organization due to the annexation of Crimea and its position on events in Ukraine. In turn, the Russian side suspended work with the assembly until the end of the year.