This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.
We, the undersigned, declare the following:
We resolutely condemn the Russian Federation’s decision to
sanction our colleague Jacques Maire.
The imposed sanctions were nothing more than a spiteful response
to the work done by Mr Maire as rapporteur of the Parliamentary
Assembly on the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, as well as to recent
Assembly decisions in this case.
The Russian Federation deliberately and actively rejects any
dialogue concerning the proper implementation of its statutory obligations
towards the Council of Europe and the improvement of the human rights
of the Russian people.
The Kremlin’s decision targets the Assembly as a whole and
contravenes the principles, values and spirit of membership of the
Assembly.
Sanctions are yet further evidence that the Russian Federation
has no interest in working together to return this nation to respect
for basic principles of law and democratic standards. The behaviour
of Mr Putin and the Russian authorities is aimed to undermine the
Assembly's core mandate to protect and promote the rule of law and
respect for human rights.
We call upon the Assembly to properly assess without delay
this unlawful and groundless decision taken by the Russian Federation.
