The credentials of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have been challenged both on procedural grounds (Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure) and on substantive grounds (Rule 8) on the opening day of the 2022 “hybrid” winter plenary session.
The challenge on procedural grounds – made by Ukrainian member Yevheniia Kravchuk (Ukraine, ALDE) – was supported by at least ten members of the Assembly, belonging to at least five national delegations, as required by the Rules. It was immediately referred to the Rules Committee.
The challenge on substantive grounds – made by the head of the Lithuanian delegation Emanuelis Zingeris (Lithuania, EPP/CD) – was supported by at least thirty members of the Assembly, belonging to at least five national delegations. It was immediately referred to the Monitoring Committee for report and to the Rules Committee for opinion.
The Assembly is due to debate the issue at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday 26 January. Under Rule 10 of the Rules of Procedure, the Assembly must vote for one of three options: to ratify the credentials, not to ratify them, or to ratify them “together with depriving or suspending the exercise of some of the rights of participation or representation of members of the delegation concerned in the activities of the Assembly and its bodies”.
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The members of the Russian delegation may sit provisionally with the same rights as other Assembly members until the Assembly has reached a decision, but may not vote on their own credentials.
