Does Russia Need the Council of Europe?

Does Russia Need the Council of Europe?

Posted by: Alexei Arbatov, Andrei Kolesnikov Wednesday, February 4, 2015 | http://carnegie.ru/eurasiaoutlook/?fa=58958&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRols6zBZKXonjHpfsX57uQsW6Sg38431UFwdcjKPmjr1YAGRMZ0aPyQAgobGp5I5FEIQ7XYTLB2t60MWA%3D%3D

Russian leaders say they are considering withdrawing in 2016 from the Council of Europe, following the vote last week to keep Russia's voting privileges in the body's Parliamentary Assembly suspended, as they have been since shortly after the annexation of Crimea. Russia has been a member of the international body, which is focused on setting standards, defending rights and promoting rule of law, since 1996, and, for now, it will continue to participate in Council structures, like the European Court of Human Rights. If Russia follows through with its threats to leave the Council, though, how will its place in the world be impacted? What would that decision's ramifications be for normal Russians?  We asked Carnegie's experts to share their thoughts.

http://carnegie.ru/eurasiaoutlook/?fa=58958&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRols6zBZKXonjHpfsX57uQsW6Sg38431UFwdcjKPmjr1YAGRMZ0aPyQAgobGp5I5FEIQ7XYTLB2t60MWA%3D%3D