Russia, facing global condemnation for its invasion of Ukraine, is withdrawing from the Council of Europe (CoE), the country's ministry of foreign affairs announced on Tuesday. “We are launching the procedure to exit the CoE, and have given notification of our departure to Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric,” the ministry said in a statement on its Telegram account.
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In its statement, Russia cited the Council's February 25 decision to suspend all its rights to representation. “The move is discriminatory and, in such conditions, our country will not remain in the Council of Europe,” the statement read.
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Daniel Holtgen, spokesperson, Council of Europe, confirmed the development. “Secretary General @MarijaPBuric today received formal notification from the #Russian #Federation of its withdrawal from the Council of Europe under Article 7 of the Statute, as well as its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights #ECHR,” Holtgen posted on Twitter.
A day ago, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in his video address to the 46-member bloc called upon member states to expel Russia. “Today, Russia is saying that there is no war, that this is just a special military operation. But I can tell you that President Putin has started a full-scale war in the centre of Europe, one that could turn into a Third World War,” Shmyhal said.
{{/usCountry}}A day ago, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in his video address to the 46-member bloc called upon member states to expel Russia. “Today, Russia is saying that there is no war, that this is just a special military operation. But I can tell you that President Putin has started a full-scale war in the centre of Europe, one that could turn into a Third World War,” Shmyhal said.
{{/usCountry}}“Ukraine is on fire,” he further said.
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The Council of Europe was founded in the wake of the Second World War to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the continent. Established in 1949, it operates on an annual budget of around 500 million euros. The CoE is headquartered at the Palace of Europe, in Strasbourg, France.
Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
(With agency inputs)