Ukraine exits in protest after PACE confirms full restoration of Russia voting rights

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has adopted a resolution confirming full restoration of all rights and voting powers of the Russian delegation, prompting the Ukrainian delegates to withdraw in protest.

Moscow’s voting rights had been stripped in 2014, after Crimea voted in a referendum to rejoin Russia, but PACE ruled on Monday that all member states have the “rights to vote, to speak and to be represented in the Assembly and its bodies shall not be suspended or withdrawn in the context of a challenge to or reconsideration of credentials.”

Responding to the return of Russia to full PACE membership, the Ukrainian delegation announced it would leave the body in protest, with one member even declaring "all Russians are bastards” after the decision. Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia have reportedly decided to follow Ukraine out of the European body, in opposition to Russia's return.

Moscow had said for years that sanctions against Russia were purely “politically motivated” and “discriminatory,” and suspended all payments to the Council of Europe, claiming that it would only release the funds after its rights are reinstated in full.

After PACE finally voted on Tuesday to ratify the credentials of the Russian delegation, by 116 votes to 62 (with 15 abstentions), Moscow called this "very positive" development a "victory of common sense."

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