French lawmaker deprived of his PACE post due to visit to Crimea

The deputy of the National Assembly of France, co-chairman of the Franco-Russian Dialogue Association, Thierry Mariani, has been asked to step down as vice-president of the Group of the European People's Party at the Council of Europe due to his visit to Crimea.

"This visit and my statements raised concerns among the group members," RIA Novosti cited him as saying.