Federation Council of Russia to pass declaration for PACE

The Federation Council of Russia plans to pass a declaration on Wednesday over losing the right for vote at the PACE. The project of the document was discussed at a session of the Federation Council committee for international affairs today, RIA Novosti reports.

Russia was kicked out of the PACE bureau, presidential committee and the permanent committee on April 10. In addition to that, Russia lost the right to vote and take part in monitoring missions. The sanctions will stay in force until the end of the year. The Russian delegation left the PACE spring session.

Igor Morozov of the committee proposed reconsideration of the annual contribution to the PACE. Mikhail Margelov heading the committee reminded that Russia was one of the five sponsors of the PACE, paying 23 million euro a year.

Russian senators proposed adding a point to the declaration that would highlight interference of the Assembly in domestic affairs of sovereign states. The text of the document will be under work until Wednesday. Margelov added that the assembly had rewritten its rules to prevent appointment of a Russian speaker of the PACE in 2006-2008.