He recalled that monitoring of member countries of the Council of Europe was introduced in 1993. Russia is among those covered by what is called "entrance obligations monitoring".
"Under such monitoring are, except Russia, also Albania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia and Montenegro", the Russian senator said.
Countries entering the Council of Europe before them have to meet a much shorter list of obligations, Mr. Margelov said.
He also stressed that the Russian side has a number of questions to put to the Council of Europe's rules of monitoring.
"The Council of Europe does not apply a set of uniform rules, which would ensure the quality of members. In addition, the Council of Europe practices the emergence of additional requirements during monitoring", he noted.
At the same time, Mr. Margelov stressed that Russia is interested in work of the Council of Europe.
"Although we seek the lifting of monitoring from our country, fulfillment of the remaining obligations before the Council of Europe remains on our internal political agenda", he said.
