Sergei Neverov: we will not allow putting Russia into a corner like a naughty child

The head of the United Russia faction noted that, voting for the decision not to participate in the PACE session, the faction proceeds precisely from considerations of democracy and respect for the rights of parliaments and states represented in the Assembly: depriving of the Russian delegation to PACE of the right of vote contradicts international law, the Statute of the Council of Europe and the very nature of parliamentarism
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Sergei Neverov
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Sergei Neverov

At the plenary meeting on Thursday, January 17, the members of the State Duma supported the draft statement “On the situation around Russian participation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe”.

Speaking during the discussion of the issue, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, the head of the United Russia faction, Sergei Neverov Neverov Sergey Ivanovich Neverov
Sergey Ivanovich
, noted that depriving of the Russian delegation to PACE of the right to vote contradicts international law, the Statute of the Council of Europe and the very nature of parliamentarism.

“After the adoption of this statement, political scientists and experts of a certain character will start wondering if this means that we are giving up Russia's presence in Europe, we are giving up democratic values. In fact, everything is exactly the opposite. Russia is just fighting for democratic values, for the right of parliaments, regardless of whether their point of view satisfies someone or not, to represent the interests of their countries and their citizens inside PACE,” said Sergei Neverov.

In his opinion, it is not the business of the European structures to “try to establish some kind of a single standard for all nations, depriving of those who have a different point of view of the right of speech and the right to think differently.”

 “We have different factions in parliament, often we don’t like what the colleagues of United Russia say, but we respect the fact that millions of Russians voted for our colleagues. And we consider ourselves obliged to listen to their point of view, to seek common, compromised solutions, and we cannot imagine any limitation in voting, in expressing our position in the State Duma,” said Sergei Neverov.

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According to the parliamentarian, PACE has driven itself into a trap — the agenda of the Parliamentary Assembly is dictated, in fact, by marginal political forces. “It is enough to cite as an example the conclusion of this organization on violations of the rights to learn native languages ​​in Russia. As Viacheslav Nikonov Nikonov Vyacheslav Alexeyevich Nikonov
Vyacheslav Alexeyevich
rightly noted, just the other day, there are 58 pages about Russia and zero attention to what is happening in Ukraine.”

Sergei Neverov believes that PACE decisions are influenced by countries that are far from Europe. “Let's be honest, hardly the actions of PACE are the choice of the European countries themselves. This is the choice of those who are not even on the European continent. Their task is to maintain a split in international structures, stop and prevent any dialogue, make Europe a field for new confrontation in order to preserve and strengthen their control over the continent,” the head of the faction said.

At the same time, during any international events, at any platforms and during dozens of bilateral meetings, Russian parliamentarians methodically conveyed their reasoned position to European colleagues, stressed Sergei Neverov. “Unfortunately, it never found a reaction and understanding. But we can safely say that the Russian parliament, on its part, did everything possible to resolve the current situation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. And we have always been open to dialogue,” said the head of the faction.

According to him, the position of the Russian side remains immutable – national delegations should not be deprived of the right to vote, no matter what country they represent. “This is contrary to the norms of international law, the Statute of the Council of Europe and the very nature of parliamentarism. We are acting not in our own interests, but in the interests of all members of the Council of Europe, whose delegations are working in PACE today,” said Sergei Neverov.

“As for the participation or non-participation of our delegation in the work of PACE. In the current situation, we will not allow the humiliation of our country. Moreover at our own expense. We have more pressing problems where money will be more useful,” said the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma.

The adoption of this statement does not also mean that the Russian parliamentarians are closed for cooperation, Sergei Neverov stressed: “We will continue it very actively. We have worked and will work with the parliaments of European countries. We appreciate the pragmatism of the positions of many national delegations in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, aimed at restoring the dialogue and full work of the Russian delegation.”

Cooperation with foreign parliamentarians will also be continued in other areas. Sergei Neverov reminded that last year the International Forum on “Development of Parliamentarism” was held, the format of the Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments is actively developing, every year the number of participants of this platform is increasing. “We are participating in other international formats and conducting a constructive dialogue,” he said.

“There has never been and will never be a situation when someone put Russia into a corner like a naughty child,” concluded Sergei Neverov.