In an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership.
The Russian flag was later lowered from in front of the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg.
When Russia joined the Council of Europe in 1996 it was considered as an important and symbolic step which recognised the transition of the country from totalitarianism to a functioning, even if imperfect democracy.
Having invaded another member state its membership of the organisation, considered as Europe's primary human rights watchdog, was untenable.
