The Baltic countries are partially boycotting the PACE session due to the return of the Russian delegation

The Ukrainian delegation refused to participate in the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, protesting against the return of the Russian delegation to PACE. A number of countries - among them Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - support Ukrainian colleagues and will not participate in a number of events taking place within the framework of this session.

"The Latvian delegation is not participating in the celebrations dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, which will be held tonight," Boris Tsilevich, a member of the delegation, told Novaya Gazeta. “This is not the time to celebrate. In addition, we will participate in the work of all political groups and committees, but will not take part in the plenary session.”

Shortly before the start of the autumn session, the PACE member states opposed to the return of the Russian delegation created the Baltic Plus group: now it includes Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia and Ukraine, but other countries may join it.

Two weeks ago, a working meeting of the group was held in Riga, at which the participating countries decided in what form to protest against the return of the Russian delegation. As a result, the Estonian, Latvian and Georgian delegations are boycotting some of the events, two of the four members of the Lithuanian delegation do not take part in the current session at all, as well as the Ukrainian delegation in its entirety.

“This is a way to express solidarity with the Ukrainian delegation,” Inese Libinya-Egnere, head of the Latvian delegation, told Novaya Gazeta. “Besides, it is a way to respond to human rights violations in Russia. At a meeting in Riga, we discussed, among other things, protests in Moscow over regional elections - we see how the rights of the opposition are being violated. Currently, more than five resolutions have been adopted condemning Russia's actions - they concern human rights, and the occupation of Georgia, and the occupation of part of Ukraine. Russia knows what needs to be done to stop the boycott. We must fulfill our obligations."

According to Inesa Libin-Egnere, the Council of Europe is now developing a response mechanism in situations where one of the member countries violates the rules of the organization. “In this situation, there should be real sanctions,” says Libina-Egnere. Latvia is also actively involved in the creation of this mechanism.

The next meeting in the Baltic Plus format will be held in November in Kyiv, where the countries will discuss their actions during the winter session.

In 2014, the Russian delegation was deprived of the right to vote in PACE due to the annexation of Crimea. In response, since 2016, Russia has suspended annual payments to the budget of the Council of Europe, which are mandatory for all participants. In June of this year, PACE adopted a resolution according to which the rights of the Russian delegation were restored.