European People’s Party Political Group in PACE Condemns Russian Sanctions Against France Delegation Member Jacques Maire

The EPP/CD Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe strongly condemned the sanctions imposed by the Russian Federation against Jacques Maire, the rapporteur on the poisoning of Alexei Navalny for PACE, and a member of the delegation of France.

The relevant statement was published by the Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the PACE on its Facebook page.

In particular, the text notes that “the sanctions follow those imposed by the Russian Federation on another our colleague, Mr. Emanuelis Zingeris, the Assembly’s rapporteur on the case of Boris Nemtsov.”

“We remind that the return of the Russian Federation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was based on the principles of dialogue and full cooperation. This agreement was not complied with. The Russian Federation has chosen the path of confrontation. Apart from individuals, the institutions aimed at protecting democracy and fundamental freedoms are in fact being attacked. No sanctions or intimidation will prevent us, as parliamentarians, from continuing our work to protect democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights in accordance with the rules governing our organisation, and to apply them equally to all Member States. Mr. Jacques Maire, acting as a rapporteur for the Assembly, has our full support in providing an impartial and balanced report on the case of Mr. Navalny, based solely on the facts submitted to him,” reads the statement.

Bohdan Marusyak