The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine believes that the resolution “Strengthening the decision-making process of the Parliamentary Assembly concerning credentials and voting” approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is an unacceptable concession to the Russian Federation which, since 2014, has been carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine grossly violating the norms and principles of international law, including those of the Statute of the Council of Europe.

The substantial weakening of the PACE sanctions mechanism foreseen by the resolution approved took place amid the absence of any constructive steps by the Russian Federation, blatant non-compliance by that country with its commitments as well as the PACE resolutions adopted in response to the Russian aggression.

What happened today in the PACE serves as evidence of a retreat from the declared standards, principles and values of the Council of Europe as a result of unprecedented pressure and financial blackmailing by the Russian Federation. Unfortunately, this became possible due to open conniving by a number of countries whose leaders, on the one hand, emphasize the need to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine, while on the other encouraging the aggressor, granting it concessions.

By renouncing its capability to apply the most effective sanctions, the Assembly has considerably weakened its role in today’s European politics, thus also giving up the ability to effectively uphold the rule of law, human rights and democracy in all the member states of the Council of Europe, including in the Russian Federation.

It is embarrassing to observe these days, as the Council of Europe is marking its 70th anniversary, that its Parliamentary Assembly has lost its standing, and the Organization can no longer play the role vested in it by the founding fathers.

The MFA of Ukraine has been consistent in opposing such a scenario, and this position remains unchanged.

Although today we became witness to the failure of the European parliamentarianism, the moral victory is on the side of the countries that did not support the destructive decisions within the Council of Europe. These were either the countries whose recent history saw Soviet occupation, or those currently suffering under the Russian occupation authorities that continue committing aggression and killing their citizens. It is these states that deserve to be considered the real defenders of the values pertaining to the Europe to which Ukraine belongs.