The head of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Urmas Reinslau, called on the Council of Europe to dismiss Russian citizens still working in the bodies of the Council of Europe. The minister posted his letter on Twitter.

The appeal is addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Pejcinovic-Buric and the current President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Foreign Minister of Iceland Tordis Kolbrun Reikfjord Gilfadottir. The Estonian Foreign Minister wrote in a letter his reservations about the fact that many Russians still work in the Council of Europe.

Reinsalu welcomes the ongoing discussions on this issue. According to him, the fact that citizens of the Russian Federation continue to work in the organization after the exclusion of Russia from it is unacceptable.. Moreover, the Russians work in the Council of Europe while the Russian Federation continues the war against Ukraine and demonstrates complete disregard for international law.

This discredits an organization that was created to promote our common values \u200b\u200b- human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.. It is also impossible not to assess the risk of external pressure on such workers.. Therefore, additional steps are needed to maintain confidence in the Council of Europe,” Reinslau stressed..

Estonian Foreign Minister urged to intensify discussion and consider the issue urgent.

“We cannot allow this problem to discredit the summit of leaders of states and governments of the Council of Europe, which will be held on May 16-17. Leaders should be able to focus on the future of the organization and concrete steps to improve the protection of human rights throughout our continent,” said the head of the Estonian Foreign Ministry.

Amid Russia's ongoing war in #Ukraine \u0026 complete disregard for intl. law, they can be Russian citizens in comparison with the place of state society. This implies the credibility of @coe, which promotes the protection of human rights, democracy and the right of law.. My official letter: pic. twitter. com/EViIZGhbpX.

— Urmas Reinsalu (@UrmasReinsalu) March 18, 2023.

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Earlier, the leaders of the Council of Europe, before the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion, called on Russia to immediately stop the aggression and withdraw the occupying forces from the territory of Ukraine.. The CoE stated that they condemn the decision of the Russian Federation not to pay attention to the numerous calls to stop hostilities and withdraw its troops, but rather to strengthen them by mobilizing and deploying additional forces, as well as the illegal annexation of the occupied territories of Ukraine.