PACE Decision on Russian Representation
During its autumn session, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted to readmit a Russian delegation to its work for a one-year term. This move comes amidst ongoing tensions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led to its initial exclusion from the body.
Accompanying this decision, the Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution titled 'Russia: New Threats to European Democracies'. The document condemns specific Russian actions, including strikes on civilian infrastructure, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and interference in the elections of European states. In a separate vote, 88 deputies supported a resolution calling for backing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia on an 'all for all' prisoner exchange.
Commenting on the Russians' return to PACE, Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko noted the decision was not unexpected but stressed that the Assembly had violated a resolution it had itself previously adopted.
Delegation Composition and Reaction
The approved Russian delegation to PACE includes the following individuals:
- Natalia Arno
- Dmitry Gudkov
- Mark Feygin
- Vladimir Kara-Murza
- Garry Kasparov
- Mikhail Khodorkovsky
- Oleg Orlov
- Lyubov Sobol
- Nadezhda Tolokonnikova
- Andrey Volna
The delegation's readmission has sparked a mixed reaction among politicians and experts, particularly given the ongoing war in Ukraine. The resolution condemning Russia's aggressive actions highlights the complex balance PACE seeks between maintaining dialogue and defending European democracies. This conditional return underscores continued diplomatic efforts but also raises questions about the effectiveness of international forums in resolving such profound conflicts.