PACE to Hold 'Long Debate' on Russia's Credentials - Lawmaker

STRASBOURG (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova — The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will have a long debate on the credentials of the Russian Federation, a Dutch lawmaker told Sputnik Monday.

"The debate will be long," Tiny Kox said, adding that over 60 people are willing to speak at the scheduled debate on Russian credentials.

A report on Russian credentials will be presented by Austrian lawmaker Stefan Schennach.

"The monitoring committee will discuss it today and tomorrow. There was a proposal of the monitoring committee to confirm the credentials of the Russian delegation and to maintain the earlier taken decisions. That will be on camera," he added.

During the summer session, the Council of Europe's lawmakers are to decide on whether or not to annul the Russian delegation's previously ratified credentials.

Russia decided to stay out of the PACE sessions until 2016, after the Council of Europe's consultative body voted in January to prolong its restrictions on Russia's participation and right to vote until the spring session in April 2015, citing a lack of improvement in the Ukraine crisis.

The European Union blames Russia for interfering in the armed confrontation in eastern Ukraine, while Moscow has repeatedly dismissed the allegations as groundless.