Russia’s descent into total isolation took a major step this week with the announcement by foreign minister Sergei Lavrov that the Kremlin would suspend its payments to the Council of Europe (CoE).
In a phone call to CoE Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland, warned that the payments would not resume until the “unconditional total restoration” of the rights of Russia’s delegation to the organization. Russia was reportedly to contribute about 33 million euro for the year to the 47-member body that focuses on democracy and human rights across Europe.
In April 2014, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) deprived the delegation …read more
Source: EU Today
