The head of the delegation of the Moldovan Parliament to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Andrei Nastase, voted for the readmission of the Russian Federation’s delegation to PACE.

Nastase said that “it was not an easy decision,” but he voted for Russia’s return to PACE in order for this institution to have a positive influence on Russia in the field of human rights and rule of law.

“The connection of the national interests of the states represented in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to the common desideratum of the European construction is essential and can not be compromised by the specificities existing for each country. Europe’s future must remain a coherent and articulate political space on the main themes that shape the future of our continent, and the majorities that define by their record the main approaches to the common evolution must be respected as the axiomatic formulas of the democracy that every nation has so much need. From a geographic, historical and cultural point of view, Moldova is and must remain part of Europe, and this sincere and transparent commitment assumes, first of all, a firm political adherence to the decisions that are formulated and supported by most of the consolidated democracies of Europe,” says Andrei Nastase.

PACE members voted for the return of Russia’s right to vote with 118 votes in favor, 62 votes against, and 10 abstaining. From the delegation of the Moldovan Parliament to PACE, deputies Andrei Nastase (PPDA) and Vlad Batrincea (PSRM) voted for the draft resolution. Deputy Mihail Popsoi (PAS) voted against the resolution.

In 2014, Russia lost voting rights in PACE after its annexation of Crimea and after supporting military separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia responded in 2016 by boycotting the Assembly and in 2017, it refused to pay its annual contribution of 33 million Euros, about 7% of the Council’s budget.

Diana Gaţcan, gatcan.diana@gmail.com