March 16, 2022–The human rights body for the European continent made a big decision today: It kicked one of its 46 members out. It is another sign of the turning point in history when the world becomes more divided.
In what it said was “an extraordinary meeting” in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe revoked the membership of the Russian Federation after 26 years of its participation.
Human Rights Body Statement
The expulsion comes a day after the council’s parliamentary assembly initiated the procedure.
“Through their actions in Ukraine the Russian authorities deprive the Russian people of the benefit of the most advanced human rights protection system in the world, including the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights and our vast convention system,” the council’s leaders said. “We express solidarity with the Russian people who, we firmly believe, share democratic values and aspire to remain part of the European family where they belong. We remain determined to use all means at our disposal to provide support, relief and legal remedies to the Ukrainian people in their fight against the aggressor and to continue the pursuit of peace based on justice and international co-operation.”
–Joint statement by the Council of Europe on March 15, 2022
The Russian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said on Tuesday it was withdrawing from the body, according to reporting by the Times of Israel. According to their story, it is only the second time a member nation left the council. Greece reportedly walked out on a temporary basis in 1960.
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