The Russian Federation was expelled from the Council of Europe. The respective decision was taken today by the Council of Ministers, as stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter.
“There is no place for Russia in European bodies, as it wages a barbaric aggressive war against Ukraine and commits multiple war crimes,” the minister pointed out.
As of 16 March, this state is no longer a member of the Council.
I welcome the decision to immediately exclude Russia from the Council of Europe just taken by the Council of Ministers. No place for Russia in European bodies as it wages a barbaric war of aggression against Ukraine and commits multiple war crimes.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 16, 2022
The Council of Europe is an international organization of 47 member states. Membership is open to all European states that recognize the rule of law and guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms to their citizens.
Russia, meanwhile, claimed that it had decided to leave the Council of Europe on its own. Withdrawal from this organization denounces the European Convention on Human Rights.
Yesterday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recommended expelling the Russian Federation from the organization.