Expelling Oceania – The Council of Europe and Russian aggression

The result of their vote was clear: 42 states were for suspension 2 states opposed it – Russia and Armenia 1 state abstained – Turkey 2 states were absent – Serbia and Azerbaijan The accompanying press release announced: “In line with the Statute of the Council of Europe, the Committee of Ministers has today decided to suspend the Russian Federation from its rights of representation in the Committ. [...] Russian prosecutors had charged that: “the activities of Memorial are, in fact, largely aimed at falsifying the history of our country, at gradually reformatting the mass consciousness of the population from the memory of the victors to the need for repentance for the Soviet past.” A report quoted the prosecution’s revisionist remarks: “It is obvious that Memorial, having capitalized on the theme. [...] Could Oceania remain a member of the Council of Europe and the latter retain its credibility? Next step: expulsion Committee of ministers in Strasbourg Following the suspension of Russia on 25 February, Pyotr Tolstoy, the head of the Russian delegation to PACE, explained on his telegram channel that the Council of Europe was www.esiweb.org 8 impossible without Russia. [...] Tolstoy also hinted that Russia was prepared to remain a member, waiting for the Council of Europe to revisit its decision: “Now the resumption of our conversation will depend on the Council of Europe. [...] We Russians are not going to change.” Pyotr Tolstoy – Marija Pejcinovic Buric Tolstoy then repeated the lies that justified the Russian invasion of Ukraine: “Until the last moment, we tried to convey our position: the genocide of Russians in Ukraine lasted for eight years, civilians died in the Donbass, families were forbidden education and the opportunity to speak Russian.” On 4 March, Marija Pej.