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Resolution 2320 (2020)
Challenge, on substantive grounds, of the still unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of the Russian Federation
1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers
to its Resolution 2287
(2019) on strengthening the decision-making process of
the Parliamentary Assembly concerning credentials and voting, which,
following a period of non-co-operation at the parliamentary level,
led to the Russian delegation’s return to the Assembly and confirmed
the Assembly’s commitment to dialogue as a means of finding lasting
solutions for outstanding issues.
2. Furthermore, the Assembly refers to its Resolution 2292 (2019) on the challenge,
on substantive grounds, of the still unratified credentials of the
parliamentary delegation of the Russian Federation, in which it resolved
to ratify the credentials and called on the Russian delegation to
comply with all recommendations included in Resolution 1990 (2014) on reconsideration
on substantive grounds of the previously ratified credentials of
the Russian delegation, Resolution
2034 (2015) on the challenge, on substantive grounds,
of the still unratified credentials of the delegation of the Russian
Federation and Resolution
2063 (2015) on the consideration of the annulment of
the previously ratified credentials of the delegation of the Russian
Federation (follow-up to paragraph 16 of Resolution 2034 (2015)), co-operate
with the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments
by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)
and engage in a meaningful dialogue on the fulfilment of its commitments
and obligations. It invited the Monitoring Committee to present
a report on the honouring of the obligations and commitments by
the Russian Federation at its earliest convenience, no later than
April 2020.
3. The Monitoring Committee has resumed its work with regard
to the Russian Federation and organised a number of hearings, which
will be taken into account by the co-rapporteurs in their ongoing
preparation of the report. The Russian delegation has co-operated
fully with the Monitoring Committee.
4. The Assembly notes that, in the six months since the Russian
Federation’s return to the Assembly, some other recommendations
included in Resolution
2292 (2019) have also been addressed by the Russian Federation.
In particular, all 24 illegally detained Ukrainian sailors captured
in the Kerch Strait were returned to Ukraine as part of a hostage
exchange. This included one person wanted for questioning in connection
with the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Some progress
has been made with regard to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.
The Russian Federation has participated in the so-called mutual release
of detainees and, alongside Ukraine, is preparing other exchanges.
5. With regard to its financial obligations towards the Council
of Europe, the Russian Federation has paid all due contributions
to the ordinary budget and partial agreements. Unpaid interest is
the subject of discussions in the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe.
6. The Assembly acknowledges that the general assessment of the
state of compliance of the Russian Federation with its commitments
and obligations towards the Council of Europe, and Resolutions 1990 (2014), 2034 (2015), 2063 (2015) and 2292 (2019) is subject
to the monitoring report under preparation. The Assembly recalls
its position on the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian
Federation.
7. Furthermore, the Assembly invites the Monitoring Committee
to follow closely the ongoing legislative process with regard to
the constitutional amendments currently underway in the Russian
Federation and explicitly underlines each member State’s obligation
to abide by the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
8. The Assembly resolves to assess the progress made in this
respect in the course of 2020 and invites the Monitoring Committee
to present the full monitoring report as soon as possible.
9. The Assembly emphasises that it constitutes the most important
pan-European parliamentary platform where political dialogue on
the Russian Federation’s obligations under the Statute of the Council
of Europe (ETS No. 1) can take place with the participation of all
those concerned, and where the Russian Federation can be held accountable
on the basis of the Council of Europe’s values and principles.
10. Therefore, the Assembly does not consider Rule 8.2.a or 8.2.b of
the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly to be applicable and resolves
to ratify the credentials of the Russian Federation.