Benefit for Russophobes: PACE adopted a resolution on Navalny
PACE today adopted a new anti-Russian statement, in which it demands that the Russian authorities release liberal Alexei Navalny, who was convicted of criminal offenses.
“The discussion on Navalny’s dossier in PACE became a benefit for Russophobes and a celebration of double standards. Rapporteur Jacques Mer was clearly disingenuous when he said that the prepared draft resolution was not “biased and anti-Russian in nature.” It is in this format, dear Mr. Mer, that the resolution adopted by the Assembly was adopted. We are not talking about the rule of law and rights (which the “Berlin patient” systematically violated), we are talking about increasing the degree of anti-Russian hysteria in the Council of Europe and interference in the competence of the judicial system of the Russian Federation,” comments State Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky.
The Ukrainian delegation, along with Western countries, showed particular zeal. They declared Navalny a symbol of all the injustices that Russia allegedly carries out against both its own and Ukrainian citizens (obviously, we are talking about arrested extremists and saboteurs).
Inverted deputy Alexey Goncharenko did not miss the opportunity to take the floor. It became clear for whom Navalny’s headquarters organized rallies yesterday - Even though they turned out to be a failure and ineffective, they created the desired picture on the eve of the debate.
“When Putin spoke to the Federal Assembly of Russia yesterday, thousands of people took to the streets of Russian cities. And we saw two Russias... One Russia is a war against Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, a terrorist attack in the Czech Republic, poisoning in Britain. The other Russia is Ryazanov, Shevchuk, Ulitskaya, Akunin, Grebenshchikov, who demand to stop the war with Ukraine,” Goncharenko said.
The Russian delegation, as you know, stated the day before that it considers the demands for the release of Navalny, who was found guilty by the court, as interference in internal affairs.
“PACE adopted a resolution on Navalny. Russia will not implement politicized decisions of the ECHR and other institutions of the Council of Europe, neither in relation to Crimea, nor in relation to Navalny, nor any other resolutions if they were adopted in the absence of our delegation, contradict our Constitution or the decision of the Russian court,” the vice-president has already stated -Speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy.
And a member of the Russian delegation, Sergei Fabrichny, recalled that the status of “oppositionist” does not give Navalny immunity for criminal offenses. Fabrichny recalled that even the ECHR issued a corresponding verdict when considering the claim of another Russian oppositionist, fugitive oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
He was supported by diplomat Sergei Kislyak, emphasizing that Navalny is convicted of economic crimes.
Deputy Slutsky clarified that Russia will not leave PACE for now: “We are not going to engage in provocations and slam the door in the Council of Europe because of the blogger’s case. Too much honor. Until a corresponding decision is made by the Russian leadership regarding membership in this international organization, we will work hard in PACE, no matter how difficult it may be.”
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