Moscow Seeks Rapid Ratification of Council of Europe’s Anti-Terror Protocol

Russia will seek the ratification of the additional protocol to the convention of the Council of Europe on preventing terrorism, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Moscow signed the protocol on July 21, despite previously having suspended payments to the Council’s budget.

"Russia intends to push for the quickest ratification of the protocol," the statement of the ministry said.

The protocol is intended to supplement the 2005 the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, thus strengthening the states’ efforts in preventing terrorism and its negative influence upon full implementation of human rights, the statement said.

First of all, it aims to stop activities of foreign terrorists and people providing them with financial and other help, the ministry added.

The protocol was opened for signature in October 2015 against the backdrop of the increasing number of people traveling to conflict zones in Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State (IS, banned in Russia) terrorist group and then returning to their homeland.