The delegations of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Georgia to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) announced on Oct. 2 that they had formed a bloc at the Council in opposition to Russia’s unconditional return to the Assembly.
The five delegations are from countries that are affected by Russian aggression, occupation or interference in one way or another. They stated that they would continue opposing the reinstatement of the Russian delegation’s voting rights at the Council.
PACE, located in Strasbourg, France, is separate from the European Union but acts as the main human rights watchdog for its 28 members, and 19 more countries that are close to the EU.
Delegates from the Baltic states, plus Ukraine and Georgia, also announced their intention to stage a boycott of celebrations that are currently taking place for the 70th anniversary of the formation of PACE.
The Council of Europe celebrates its 70th anniversary. Unfortunately this important human rights watchdog did not live up to the expectations when Russia was readmitted in its parliamentary assembly #PACE https://t.co/vNDNnou4Gd
— Marcel H. Van Herpen (@MarcelHVanHerpe) October 1, 2019
Russian diplomats were granted unconditional readmission to PACE on June 25. This sparked a walkout by the five nations — as well as Slovakia and Poland at the time — that have now formed the bloc in opposition to Russia called Baltic+.
British delegates have also attended meetings with the new Baltic+ group, including at its formation in Riga, Latvia, and they have reiterated their support for the five countries.
In June, PACE delegates overwhelmingly voted – 118 in favor, 62 against and with 10 abstentions – to unconditionally restore Russia’s voting rights. Moscow had been sanctioned by PACE five years ago, losing its voice in the Assembly after its illegal invasion and occupation of Ukrainian Crimea. Since then, it has continued waging war against Ukraine, claiming 13,000 lives in the process.
On June 25, Ukrainian lawmakers and diplomats called Russia’s return a “moral capitulation” and said it had discredited the Council, which oversees the European Court of Human Rights and enforces the European Convention on Human Rights.
Blame for Russia’s unconditional readmission to PACE largely fell on Germany, France, Italy and Spain whose delegations overwhelmingly backed the Kremlin delegation in returning to the Assembly.
“The unconditional return of Russia to PACE undermines the credibility of the organization, and therefore, dissenting national delegations have the right to protest,” said Lisa Yasko, the new head of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE on Oct. 1, as reported by Ukrinform. “That’s why we created this group.”
The delegations of #Estonia, #Georgia, #Latvia, #Lithuania and #Ukraine 🇪🇪 🇬🇪 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇺🇦 have established a permanent group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe #PACE to denounce #Russia's policy of annexation and occupation of its neighbouring countries pic.twitter.com/xRcPdCrgwA
— Shalva Tsiskarashvili (@tsiskarashvili) October 2, 2019
PACE has become a key battleground for European countries affected by Russian aggression or interference, but the Council has also faced allegations of abandoning its principles and losing its moral authority for allowing Russia’s return.
U.K. lawmakers and diplomats were vocal in their support for the Baltic+ countries: “I strongly welcome this grouping of countries, all of which escaped the authoritarian dictatorship of the Soviet Union and are now independent and free,” said John Whittingdale, a British lawmaker who chairs the parliamentary committee on Ukraine.
“They are on the front line in the hybrid warfare being waged by Russia and I hope that the U.K. will stand alongside them in opposing Russian aggression. As a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE I also hope that a similar initiative can be organised there,” Whittingdale added.
Roger Gale, a veteran member of the U.K. parliament who leads the 18-member British delegation to PACE, told the Kyiv Post that his team were active behind the scenes in support of the Baltic+ countries, and that he had joined the new group as an associate member.
“Our friends within the Baltic Plus Group should be in no doubt of our continued and staunch support… for a full and fair resolution to the many issues generated by the behavior of Russia,” he said, adding that the U.K. delegation had secured another PACE debate about Russia on Oct. 3.
“I respect and understand the position taken by the signatories of the (Baltic+) letter but… we believe that we have to fight this battle… from within, rather than leaving the field open,” Gale added, in reference to talk of further boycotts and walkouts at PACE.
