Representatives of Yabloko in Strasbourg are actively seeking to restore the proxies of the delegation of the Federal Assembly of the RF at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) session. Deputy Chairman of the Yabloko faction and member of the delegation Sergei Ivanenko reported by phone from Strasbourg (the regular session of PACE opened on June 26) that today the liberal group (80 parliament members, the third largest group in PACE) had discussed at its meeting relationships between Russia and PACE.

In accordance with the decision of the Council of the Duma the delegation of the Federal Assembly of the RF refused to take part in the June session of the PACE. The head of the delegation and head of the Duma Committee on International Affairs Dmitri Rogozin (the “People’s Deputy” group) announced that Russian parliament members will not participate in the PACE sessions until this organisation revises the “discriminatory” decision of the April session that in view of the situation in Chechen Republic limited the proxies of the Russian delegation, depriving it of the right to vote.

Sergei Ivanenko and a member of the Yabloko delegation Alexander Shishlov, as well as a representative of the SPS faction, the well-known defender of human rights, Sergei Kovalyov, are participating in the June session of PACE on their personal initiative.

A member of the deputies’ group “Russia’s Regions” Robret Nigmatulin was forwarded by the Federal Assembly to the session as an observer. Sergei Ivanenko also said that the liberal group had adopted at today’s meeting adopted a declaration that comprises five points.

“The group condemned both the decision of the Duma and the viewpoint of the Chairman of the Duma Gennadi Seleznyov, who spoke against participation of the Russian delegation in the PACE session,” said Sergei Ivanenko. At the same time, according to Sergei Ivanenko, the group “welcomed the participation of Yabloko representatives in the PACE session”.

According to the members of the group, the decision to deprive the Russian delegation of its vote “should not act as a hindrance to dialogue between Russia and PACE.” Ivanenko also said that the liberal group called on Russia to implement in full its obligations before the Council of Europe. He said that they were referring primarily to the need to observe human rights, develop democracy and protect freedoms. The PACE colleagues of Alexander Shishlov and Sergei Ivanenko supported Yabloko’s efforts to ensure observation of law and human rights in Russia.

In addition, the members of the group indicated that the State Duma must play its role here. This refers primarily to the issues related to the observation of human rights in the Chechen Republic. Sergei Ivanenko also said that the members of the liberal group stressed that the right to vote would be restored to the Russian delegation, provided that the work of the Russian side in this area is successful.

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:

Alexandr Shishlov criticises the refusal of the Russian delegation to participate in the PACE session

Yabloko: constructive dialogue with PACE offers the best protection of Russia’s interests