The Committee of Ministers with representatives of the 47 member countries decided on Friday to relieve Russia of its rights of representation within the Strasbourg organization because of serious violations. However, Russia remains a formal member.
The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, France, together with its Court of Justice, is responsible for the protection of human rights in the 47 member states. It is not an organ of the European Union. Russia and Ukraine are both members of the Council of Europe.
Last used in 1969
In the history of the Council of Europe, Article 8 of the Statutes on the suspension has only been used once – against the Greek military junta. In 1969, this led to Greece leaving the Council of Europe. According to Article 8 of the Statues of the Council of Europe, there is a risk of suspension if respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms has been seriously violated. In a further escalation stage, a member country could also be asked to leave or excluded.
Council of Europe leader Marija Pejcinović Burić had previously said the Russian attack violated the statutes of the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Russian authorities urged them to cease hostilities immediately and return to diplomacy. The Committee of Ministers’ decision followed consultations with representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
According to the Council of Europe, the Russian judge at the Human Rights Court will remain a member of the court. Cases against Russia could continue to be brought.
After the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe had already withdrawn voting rights from the Russian delegation. However, the sanction did not apply to all bodies of the organization. The delegation reacted with a boycott, Russia suspended its payments to the state organization and threatened to withdraw. In 2019, sanctions were lifted and Russia paid off its debt to the Council of Europe.
Source: Nachrichten
