Suspending Russia's participation in PACE will not lead to its self-isolation, as the country will continue to work with the OSCE, the head of the Duma's foreign affairs committee, Alexei Pushkov, wrote on Twitter.
"Suspending Russia's participation in PACE does not mean Russia's isolation, we will work in the OSCE.
PACE has refused to conduct dialogue on an equal footing and has weakened its role in Europe," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
Yesterday PACE striped Russia of the right to vote and take part in the Assembly’s governing bodies until April. The head of the Russian delegation, Alexei Pushkov, said that Russia is leaving PACE until the end of the year.
At the end of the year the question of Russia's membership in the Council of Europe will be decided, he added.
