TBILISI, February 3. /TASS/. Georgia has decided to withdraw members of its delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated on Monday.

"We expect the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to return to its original values, which are based on respect for democracy and sovereignty," he said at the parliament's meeting.

Georgia's delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly includes Georgian Parliament Deputy Speaker Thea Tsulukiani, MPs Givi Mikanadze, Mariam Lashkhi, Eka Sepashvili, as well as alternate MPs Levan Machavariani, Rati Ionatamishvili and Zviad Shalamberidze. They have already made a corresponding request to PACE President Theodoros Roussopoulos.

On January 29, PACE adopted a resolution recognizing the powers of the Georgian delegation, but with the condition that the country hold a new parliamentary election by April and release "political prisoners." It also said the Georgian delegation's rights would be restricted and its credentials would come under review in April. According to Tsulukiani, who heads the Georgian delegation to PACE, Georgia reacted to the decision by terminating its work in PACE.