Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky talks to the media at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

27.06.2019#5930338

Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky talks to the media at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

27.06.2019#5930329

The building of the Council of Europe is pictured, in Strasbourg, France. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5929257

A general view of the hall before a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5929256

PACE President Liliane Maury Pasquier addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored. Newly elected COE Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric, right.

26.06.2019#5928850

Members of the Russian delegation, from left, pose for a photo after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) session, in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928849

Newly elected COE Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928847

Ukrainian representative Oleksii Goncharenko talks to the media after a session at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928675

Head of the delegation and the deputy speaker of the Russian lower chamber Pyotr Tolstoy talks to the media after a session at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928674

Head of the delegation and the deputy speaker of the Russian lower chamber Pyotr Tolstoy addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928629

Deputy head of the Russian delegation Sergey Kislyak addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928618

Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky addresses the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928613

Deputy head of the Russian delegation to the legislative body Sergey Kislyak talks to the media at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928034

Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky talks to the media at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928032

The building of the Council of Europe is pictured, in Strasbourg, France. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928025

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, left, and Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland shake hands during a news conference at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928022

A general view of the hall during a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928019

A general view of the hall during a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5928017

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa speaks during a news conference at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5927998

Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland speaks during a news conference at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5927996

A general view of the hall before a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in Strasbourg, France. The PACE has officially invited the Russian delegation to participate in the June session. In April 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in PACE in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis and aftermath of the Crimea referendum. Since 2016, the Russian delegation has not been renewing its credentials ahead of the assembly's sessions in protest of the discrimination it faces within the organization. The country has also frozen its contributions to the Council of Europe, pledging to withhold future payments until such time as the Russian delegation’s rights are restored.

26.06.2019#5927991