The President of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Pedro Agramunt, resigned. It is reported by RIA Novosti.
In an interview with the representative of Agramunt said he sent a letter explaining the reasons for such a step. “First of all, the fact that the Assembly had adopted undemocratic measures which deprived the meaning of his mandate, he may not under these conditions to perform his duties as Chairman,” — said the Agency interlocutor.
The resignation Agramunt said he wanted to leave his post for health reasons.
The scandal surrounding Agramunt erupted at the April session of PACE, when the MEPs began to criticize the head of the Assembly for its March trip to Syria along with a delegation of Russian parliamentarians headed by Vice-speaker of the state Duma Vladimir Vasiliev. Agramunt said that acted as a private citizen and not as the representative of the international organization. MPs demanded to declare Agramunt no-confidence vote, but the rules of the organization does not involve a feedback mechanism with elected positions.
Then the authorized body of the PACE Bureau — banned Agramunt to make statements and to participate in trips on behalf of the Assembly. Later PACE adopted the resolution with amendments to the regulations so that you can start the process of removal of Agramunt from office.
The Russian delegation was deprived of the basic powers of the PACE in April 2014 because of the events in the Donbas and the Crimea. Moscow in the answer has ceased to participate in its activities. The question of removing sanctions was raised several times, but they continue to operate. Against restrictions against Russia, advocated, in particular, Agramunt.