Russia is leaving the Council of Europe. The corresponding letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov has been handed over to the Secretary-General of the organization, said the Vice Speaker of the State Duma, the head of the Russian delegation of PACE, Peter Tolstoy.
It was reported by the Russian news agency TASS.
"Russia is leaving the Council of Europe of its own free will, it is an informed and well-considered decision," he added.
Upon leaving the Council of Europe, Russia denounces the European Convention on Human Rights said Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma International Affairs Committee.
Despite the denunciation of the European Convention on Human Rights, all rights of Russians will be unconditionally guaranteed, he added.
The local Foreign Ministry said that Russia's exit from the Council of Europe will not affect the rights and freedom of Russian citizens.
"Leaving the Council of Europe, Russia remains open to equal cooperation with its members on issues of mutual interest," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Yesterday, 14 March, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal called for the expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe at an emergency session of the PACE Parliamentary Assembly.
The Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova called on the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Maria Peichinovych-Burych to expel Russia from the organization and its representatives from the Secretariat of the Council of Europe as soon as possible.
On 25 February, the Council of Europe suspended Russia's membership in the organization. Russia's membership has also been suspended in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The Council of Europe has also suspended Russia's membership on the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL).