The Council’s executive body, the Committee of Ministers, suspended all Russian representation on the day after the invasion, but the expulsion would be unprecedented.
“We urge you to decide on the immediate expulsion of Russia from the Council of Europe,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmihhal told the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (EPPA), addressing the forum via video link.
Russia’s attack means it “can no longer stay in the European family”.
“Ukraine is on fire, hundreds of houses have been destroyed, millions of Ukrainians have no electricity, no heat,” said Schmihal, addressing the assembly in place of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who, according to the prime minister, is addressing urgent issues in talks with Russia. “We must unite our efforts to protect Ukraine, but also to protect the whole of Europe.”
The Parliamentary Assembly, which is currently meeting to discuss the Russian invasion, does not have the power to exclude a member state, but it can recommend it to a committee of ministers that can take such a step.
The assembly is expected to pass a resolution on Tuesday calling on Russia to withdraw from the organization.
No Member State is ever excluded from the Council of Europe.
Greece, ruled by a military junta, withdrew from the organization in the late 1960s. Russia could now take such a step to avoid shameful exclusion.
