PACE Armenian Delegation in a Bit of a Pickle Because of Russian Federation: Paper

At its spring session in Strasbourg on April 7–11 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will debate a motion to reconsider the already ratified credentials of the delegation of the Russian Federation on substantive grounds. Many deputies from different member countries of the Council of Europe have already signed the motion. According to local daily Zhoghovurd, the possibility that PACE will take a more stringent approach up to expelling the Russian Federation from PACE or freezing its membership is not ruled out.

The UK delegation intends to address the Assembly with the latest initiative. This requires adoption of a resolution by voting. The Armenian newspaper reports that because of the anticipated vote, the Armenian delegation has found itself in an uncomfortable position. According to the paper, the Russian authorities with the help of lobby groups have already begun to appeal to the Armenian authorities for Armenia's delegation to PACE to vote against the draft resolution.