Truro and Falmouth's Member of Parliament Cherilyn Mackrory has welcomed the decision by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers to suspend the Russian Federation from its rights of representation in the Committee of Ministers and in the Parliamentary Assembly with immediate effect as a result of the Russian Federation's armed attack on Ukraine.

The decision adopted on 25th February means that the Russian Federation remains a member of the Council of Europe and party to the relevant Council of Europe conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights.

The judge elected to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of the Russian Federation also remains a member of the Court, and applications introduced against the Russian Federation will continue to be examined and decided by the Court. Suspension is not a final measure but a temporary one, leaving channels of communication open.

The decision was taken following an exchange of views with the Parliamentary Assembly in the Joint Committee.

Cherilyn, who has been a member of the UK delegation of the Council of Europe since January 2021, said:

"Following the Putin regime's open act of war against Ukraine, it is only right that the Council of Europe take this swift action to suspend the Russian Federation from its position on this organisation.

"Putin's actions fly in the face of the fundamental principles the Council of Europe was set up to uphold, and I was pleased to see the UK delegation united with colleagues from across Europe in making this happen."

The Council of Europe (CoE) is a pan-European organisation of 47 European member states.

The idea of Winston Churchill's the Council of Europe is separate to the European Union and the United Kingdom was one of the founding members. Set up shortly after the end of the Second World War, the CoE's core mission is to promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across the continent.

Click here to see more from Cherilyn Mackrory.

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