Speaking about the situation in PACE, Viacheslav Volodin
Vyacheslav Victorovich
The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the eighth convocation. Elected in single mandate constituency № 163 (Saratov constituency - Saratov Oblast)
noted that the current relations between Russia and this organization “were formed solely due to the fault of our colleagues from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, because they felt that you can shut up any country, and at the same time this country should pay money.“
“We do not believe that this can be done today, in the 21st century. When we start discussing this issue, we find the support of all national parliaments,” said the Chairman of the State Duma and stressed that “today we have quite an effective dialogue with all the national parliaments of European states.”
“If all national delegations, not only Russia, are not given an equal opportunity to express their point of view, then we simply have no reason to participate in the PACE work,” said Viacheslav Volodin.
The national delegation, deprived of the right to vote, cannot effectively represent the interests of its citizens, of its country, he said.
“We have to discuss the rather serious questions, but if we are deprived of our right to vote, we are not able to discuss the candidates, we are not able to express our point of view …
Who do you take us for?” said the Chairman of the State Duma. He pointed out that Russia will not take part in such a parliamentary assembly and will look for other forms of cooperation.
“This structure today found itself to be a hostage in the hands of extreme radicals, which are represented by the Baltic countries, Poland, and Ukraine. Given that they are very actively supported by the United Kingdom and the United States, they actually impose their views on the entire Parliamentary Assembly,” said Viacheslav Volodin. He noted that other countries do not like it, ‘and we hear this not only during our dialogue with the national parliaments of the largest countries of Europe.’
“This is the position of the Secretary General, Mr. [Thorbjørn] Jagland, who came to Russia and met with my colleagues in the State Duma, I discussed this issue with him, he doesn’t like what happens in PACE,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
