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Naryshkin doubts if Russia should stay at PACE in 2015 if stripped of powers

The Izvestia daily said earlier that Dutch delegates were drafting another resolution for stripping the Russian delegation of the full list of powers at PACE
Russian State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin Anna Isakova/State Duma press service/TASS
Russian State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin
© Anna Isakova/State Duma press service/TASS

MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. Russian State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin doubts if the Russian delegation should stay at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) throughout 2015, if it is stripped of powers again during the assembly’s winter session.

“I am hoping for an optimistic scenario of PACE activities (regarding the Russian delegation),” Naryshkin told the media on Monday. "I do believe in the common sense of the European legislators who are present in the conference hall of the Assembly, which is a very authoritative and crucial parliamentary body. But if a different opinion prevails, should you ask me, I will tell you I doubt the feasibility of our further work at the PACE, at least during 2015,” he said.

In the wake of a report by the daily Izvestia saying Dutch delegates were drafting another resolution for stripping the Russian delegation of the full list of powers at PACE, Naryshkin said it was any delegation’s right to draft resolutions for suspending colleagues’ powers.

“Apparently this issue is still to be discussed. We shall be trying to prove we are right,” he said in conclusion.