PACE Says Unaware of Dutch Resolution Barring Russia From Voting

A PACE staff member claims that the Assembly has not received any official document concerning the credentials of the Russian delegation.

MOSCOW, January 19 (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has not received any information on the resolution on suspension of Russia’s voting rights until 2016, possibly being drafted by the Dutch delegation, a PACE staff member told Sputnik on Monday.

"No official motion has been received to date concerning the credentials of the Russian delegation," PACE Communication Division officer Angus Macdonald said.

Earlier in the day, the Izvestia newspaper reported that the Netherlands had prepared a draft resolution, prohibiting Russia to voting at PACE until 2016.

Members of the Dutch delegation to PACE told Sputnik that they are unaware of the reported preparation of the draft resolution, adding that there is, however, a possibility that the resolution is being prepared by a separate Dutch delegation member.

Macdonald also added that in case the credentials of Russia's delegation are challenged, "challenge must be made by at least 30 members of the Assembly (belonging to at least five national delegations) who are present in the Chamber at the time," thus implying that a possible resolution, if presented by the Dutch delegation, will have to seek support of four more delegations.

In April 2014, PACE suspended the voting rights of the Russian delegation following Crimea’s reunification in March, 2014, a move condemned as illegal by the West and Ukraine. Voting rights in the organization are renewed annually at the winter session.