PACE Softens Stance on Moscow, Tries to Resume Dialogue - Russian Official

The stance of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) toward Russia is gradually softening and occasional attempts to revive a dialogue with Russian lawmakers are being made, the speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament said Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – "We see a thaw, attempts to engage us in dialogue, contacts," Valentina Matvienko told journalists.

PACE stripped Russia of its voting rights in April 2014 and extended the restriction in January 2015, prompting the Russian delegation to skip the summer and fall sessions.

According to Matvienko, Russia's position on the renewal of its delegation’s voting power as the only precondition to its return to PACE sessions has already gained understanding within the organization.

PACE is due to review the credentials of its delegations at its winter session in January 2016.