Russia says it is pulling out of the Council of Europe (COE), a pan-European rights body, as pressure mounts for Moscow’s expulsion over its invasion of Ukraine.
The decision ends Russia’s quarter century membership of the COE and also opens the way for Moscow to reimpose the death penalty if authorities there decide to do so.
The so-called “Ruxit” means that Russia will no longer be a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and its citizens will no longer be able to file applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Russia’s foreign ministry, announcing the launching of the procedure to exit COE, said it has “no regret” about leaving.
