The Council of Europe Excludes the Russian Federation as a Member State

17-03-2022

Manon Picard

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

After 26 years of membership, the Russian Federation ceases, since the 16th of March 2022, to be a member of the Council of Europe. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in an Opinion published on the 15th of March 2022, stated that the Russian Federation had infringed the Council of Europe’s Statute by undertaking an armed attack on the sovereign territory of Ukraine and for those reasons: 

“The Assembly […] is of the opinion that the Committee of Ministers should request the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw from the Council of Europe. If the Russian Federation does not comply with the request, the Assembly suggests that the Committee of Ministers determines the immediate possible date from which the Russian Federation would cease to be a member of the Council of Europe”.

Pursuant to PACE’s request, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided, in a Resolution adopted on the 16th of March, that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe under Article 8 of its Statute. PACE reiterated that it condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine which are in violation of human rights and humanitarian law and stands in “solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, reaffirming its unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine”. 

The Council of Europe’s actions is a clear condemnation of Russia’s aggression on Ukraine with the President of Pace, Tiny Kox, stating that “there is no place in this Organisation for those who cross red lines”. 

Sources and further reading:

Council of Europe. (2022, March 16). The Russian Federation Can no Longer be a Member State of the Council of Europe, PACE says. Newsroom – Council of Europe. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/the-russian-federation-can-no-longer-be-a-member-state-of-the-council-of-europe-pace-says

Council of Europe. (2022, March 16). The Russian Federation is excluded from the Council of Europe. Newsroom – Council of Europe. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/the-russian-federation-is-excluded-from-the-council-of-europe

Council of Europe. (2022, March 16). Committee of Ministers - Resolution on the Cessation of the Membership of the Russian Federation to the Council of Europe. https://search.coe.int/cm/pages/result_details.aspx?objectid=0900001680a5d7d9

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. (2022, March 15). Opinion 300 (2022) - Consequences of the Russian Federation's Aggression Against Ukraine. https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29885/html