The Council of Europe’s executive body, the committee of ministers, had a day after the invasion on February 25 suspended Russia from all its rights of representation — but an expulsion would be unprecedented. No member state has ever been expelled from the COE, which was created in 1949 and of which both Russia and Ukraine are members. Not using the death penalty is a precondition of COE membership. Pejcinovic Buric expressed horror that former Russian president and premier Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy national security council chief, had evoked bringing back capital punishment. She said his comments were “deplorable” and the death penalty was a “red line” for the Council of Europe.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 04, 2022 22:28 UTC