Georgia, Ukraine, five more boycott PACE assembly after Russia’s comeback

The delegations of Georgia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia boycotted the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Wednesday after Russia regained its voting right lost for the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Georgian and Ukrainian delegates stated that the decision was “absolutely unacceptable,” when Russia continues the violation of human rights and the occupation of territories of other, sovereign nations.

Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani called the PACE decision “sad,” stating that the country strongly opposed such development and continues to do so.

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko stated that PACE “sold its values for 75 million EUR”, as Russia was allowed to the assembly only after it agreed to pay its membership dues and fines.

“When Putin continues killing people, you will also see the blood on your hands,” Honcharenko addressed PACE after 118 of its legislators accepted to re-allow Russia to vote, and then many of them applauded the decision.

He stated that PACE lost the hearts of millions of people due to the “unjust decision,” including the hearts of Ukrainians, Georgians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Slovakians, Britons, and others.

118 MPs voted for the return of Russia in PACE, 62 went against, and ten refused to vote after Russia refused to pay its membership fee starting for 2017, creating serious problems for the Council of Europe budget.

The meeting of the Committee of Ministers at Deputy Level in the Council of Europe (CoE) held during the CoE Helsinki ministerial back in May, spoke in favour of Russia regaining its voting right in PACE, the decision which was protested upon by Georgia, Ukraine, and the Baltic States.

Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkakiani expressed hope then that PACE would not have re-allowed Russia to vote, in the situation the country proceeds the same aggressive policy.

During his speech in PACE in April 2019 Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said that “Russia must pay its membership fee and the issue must not become a reason for any change in PACE procedures and rules.”

The Georgian government contributed 500,000 EUR to the PACE budget as a sign of gratitude and support.

The 47-member Council of Europe, which is not linked to the EU, was created in 1949 to promote democracy and the rule of law across Europe.