ALDA Governing Board statement on the Russian exclusion from the Council of Europe

Today we are again confirming the full condemnation of the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and we are calling for the war to stop immediately. The Russian Federation cannot be a member of the Council of Europe and ALDA supports this decision.

We are close to Ukrainians who are still in the country and those who are looking for shelters as IDPs in Ukraine and refugees in other countries.

Considering this and entirely supporting the arguments that are leading to Russian expulsion, we consider that member states should work together and identify new ways of supporting Russian civil society suffering from the Putin’s regime. All the core Council of Europe institutions (Congress, European Court on Human Right, Youth Department etc.) should continue their cooperation with opposition forces, independent media outlets and activists that keep on promoting democracy and human rights in Russia under these critical times.