MOSCOW, April 01. /ITAR-TASS/. Speaker of the Federation Council upper house of Russian parliament Valentina Matviyenko stated that Russian delegation would compulsorily participate in a spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), but the country’s delegation retains the right to leave the PACE session, if the organization takes a harsh resolution over Russia.
“If we face misunderstanding, reluctance to heed to our opinion, if we confront attempts of a hostile anti-Russian hysteria, we can retain the right and we should show that we are not prepared to stay indifferent and hear unjustified reproaches towards Russia,” the parliament speaker noted. “If a harsh resolution is adopted, I believe that it will be most correct decision for our delegation to leave the PACE session,” she told reporters, adding that “PACE loses more from this.”
The Federation Council speaker also noted that Russian parliamentary delegation “should come to attend a PACE spring session obligatorily.” “We have our position, we are prepared to formulate it, we are prepared to substantiate it, including on a basis of international law. We have something to say to our partners,” Matviyenko said with confidence. Meanwhile, she told reporters that Russian lawmakers were aware of “anti-Russian hysteria” being contemplated. Meanwhile, the parliament speaker said with hope that common sense would prevail in PACE, because Russia was one of key partners of this organisation.
According to previous media reports, PACE members may put for voting the issue of stripping the Russian delegation of the right to vote or an accreditation at a PACE session this April. In retaliation Russian lawmakers allegedly may decide to suspend the country’s participation in PACE’s activity themselves.