Depriving Russia of the right to vote in the Council of Europe shows that the organization needs to change, Federation Council speaker Valentina Matvienko says.
"I'm absolutely convinced that Russia's accession to the Council of Europe was absolutely right and only possible decision, and at the same time it was mutually interesting, intellectual joint work," she said.
Matvienko explained that Russia should remain in the Council of Europe, but the country "must be heard".
