Russia’s voting right confirmed at PACE, Georgia, Ukraine ‘not surprised’

Several countries, including Georgia, challenged Russia’s regaining its voting right at PACE on Monday, stating that the country continues the occupation of Georgian and Ukrainian territories and the violation of international laws and obligations. Photo: PACE. 

Agenda.ge, 30 Jan 2020 - 15:20, Tbilisi,Georgia

Russia has its voting right confirmed in PACE despite Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia challenged this earlier this week, once again protesting Russia’s regaining the right seven months ago which it lost for annexation of Crimea back in 2014.

With 96 votes for and 44 against Russia can now vote in PACE, the decision late yesterday which ‘was not surprising’ for Georgian and Ukrainian delegates after the country [Russia] agreed to pay €75 million last year for regaining the right.

The Georgian delegation members said that “we, together with our allies, continue to create obstacles for Russia at PACE,” while Ukrainian delegates once again accused the Council of Europe “of selling its values.”

Before the voting took place Russia threatened to leave.

Responding to the accusations of occupying the territories of independent states and violating international law, Russian delegates told Georgian and Ukrainian delegations that ‘you used force against your citizens and the violation remains ignored [by the international community].’