Doc. 9245
8 October 2001

Steps taken by the Duma of the Russian Federation to destabilise the international situation

Motion for an order

presented by Mr Landsbergis and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

      The law adopted by the Russian Duma on 28 June 2001, the “Federal Constitutional Law on the Procedure of Accession to the Russian Federation and the Establishment of a New Entity of the Russian Federation in its composition” causes deep concern and astonishment. The law provides that independent states which do not even have common borders with Russia as well as parts of sovereign foreign states (i.e. Transnistria, Abkhazia, Crimea), may “join” Russia. By this revanchist law Russia destroys mutual confidence and creates tension in the relations with its neighbours.

      This development may be worse than the Cold War. The Assembly regards this international challenge as transgressing limits, to which it is necessary to give a response and ask for an explanation. The Assembly therefore calls on its Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe to collect necessary comments and conclude on how this law corresponds with the principles of the Council of Europe, as well as with the obligations of the Russian Federation as a member state of the Council of Europe.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Landsbergis, Lithuania, EDG
Akgönenç, Turkey, EDG

Baumel, France, EDG

Dobelis, Latvia, EDG

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Ilaşcu, Romania, EDG

Knight, United Kingdom, EDG

Kostytsky, Ukraine, EPP/CD

Kovalev, Russia, SOC

Oliynyk, Ukraine, UEL

Paegle, Latvia, EPP/CD

Patarkalishvili, Georgia, EPP/CD

Popescu, Ukraine, SOC

Tallo, Estonia, SOC

Tevdoradze, Georgia, EDG

Truu, Estonia, EDG

Vahtre, Estonia, EPP/CD

Vakilov, Azerbaijan, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group