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Cooperation with PACE on discriminatory basis inadmissible for Russia — official

PACE has extended sanctions against the Russian delegation and deprived it of the right to vote and take part in PACE’s steering bodies till April 2015
Valentina Matviyenko Ilya Pitalyov/TASS
Valentina Matviyenko
© Ilya Pitalyov/TASS

MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on a discriminatory basis is unacceptable for Russia, speaker of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house Valentina Matviyenko said on Thursday.

"Regrettably, PACE has embarked on a path of continuing bloodshed in Ukraine, of discouraging a fair political settlement of the conflict in that country. That is why, cooperation with this organization, let alone on a discriminatory basis, is counterproductive and unacceptable for us," the press service of the Russian upper parliament house quoted her as saying.

"The political bias and selectiveness of this organization have come in conflict with the basic goals and principles of the Assembly," she said. "PACE is in the habit of positioning itself as Europe’s ‘democratic conscience. So, this conscience has turned to be very much tainted," Matviyenko said.

On January 28, PACE decided to extend sanctions against the Russian delegation and deprive it of the right to vote and take part in PACE’s steering bodies till April 2015.