Russia quits Council of Europe

A decision on Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe has been made, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov handed a corresponding letter to the Secretary-General of the organization.

Report informs citing TASS that this was announced on Wednesday by Vice Speaker of the State Duma, head of the Russian delegation to PACE Petr Tolstoy.

"The decision to withdraw from the Council of Europe has been made. The corresponding letter from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been handed over to the organization's Secretary General," Tolstoy wrote on his Telegram channel.

He also stressed that "Russia is withdrawing from the Council of Europe of its own free will, this is a balanced and considered decision".