Ukraine's FM, CoE Secretary General discuss consequences of Russia's return to PACE

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko and newly appointed Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić have discussed the consequences of the return of Russia's delegation to the session hall of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The meeting took place on September 26 as part of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.

In particular, the parties exchanged views on the consequences of the decision, which allowed the unconditional return of the Russian delegation to the PACE in June, as well as ways to overcome the confidence crisis.

At the same time, Prystaiko expressed hope for continued constructive cooperation with the Council of Europe in the field of ensuring the analysis of national legislation for compliance with European norms and standards.

Read alsoUkraine's delegation boycotts PACE's autumn session over Russia's return

As UNIAN reported earlier, the PACE on June 26, 2019, lifted sanctions from Russia, which were in effect since April 2014 over the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea. All the powers of the Russian delegation to the PACE were reinstated in full.

After this, the delegations of Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine decided to leave the PACE summer session ahead of schedule.

One of the arguments for the return of Russia to the PACE was the fact that Russian citizens need to have access to the European Court of Human Rights to be able to protect their rights.

In September, the delegation of Ukraine to the PACE officially refused to participate in the PACE's autumn session over the Russian Federation's return.