Photo:
© Flickr/ PACE
The head of PACE Pedro Agramunt may visit Russia before the end of this year, said the head of the international Committee of the state Duma Leonid Slutsky.
“We certainly need to talk to Agramunt. Incidentally, he has not yet confirmed any specific dates for his visit to Moscow, but I am sure that before the end of the year we have”, — said Slutsky during a press conference in MIA “Russia today”.
The head of PACE Agramunt this year already three times visited Russia for meetings with representatives of the Russian Parliament.
However, Slutsky has expressed skepticism about the upcoming visit of the head Assembly. “Well, come Agramunt, what’s next? Agramunt not in command of the Assembly, the Assembly command of the presidential Committee, the Bureau then, and then the Assembly itself. On any of these levels, a decision can be challenged,” said Slutsky.
In 2014-15 PACE because of Moscow’s position on Crimea has deprived Russia of voting rights, opportunities for participation in work of statutory bodies, opportunities to participate in monitoring the elections. In 2016, Moscow decided not to send to the authority the necessary documents. However, Russia continued its cooperation with the Council of Europe in the year of the 20-year anniversary of joining the organization.