First Vice Speaker on Russia's Unfulfillment of Commitments Towards CoE

According to the First Vice Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Tamar Chugoshvili, Russia does not fulfill any commitments assumed towards the Council of Europe (CoE).  The actions of Russia within the CoE is essentially blackmail, she claimed.  Currently, Russia does not pay the membership fee other members of the CoE pay, and through not upholding the requirements, they should quit.

"The country must fulfill the commitments assumed towards both Ukraine and Georgia before annulment of the sanctions—not of the sanction mechanism itself—can be discussed.  However, the consequences will prove detrimental if the CoE surrenders to the Russian blackmailing," she added.  

The First Vice Speaker states that major discussions will be held regarding this situation this week.  She believes that the CoE will not sway to the side of the Russian "blackmailing" and will make decisions that respect human rights and democracy.  The Georgian delegation, too, wants the mechanism to remain as is. 

"As this week unfolds, the decisions will be made clear, but the mechanism is projected to stay the same, and the CoE should not lean in favor of Russia," Chugoshvili concluded.

By Shirin Mahdavi