Russian delegation boycotts European assembly
PARIS (AP) — Eighteen Russian lawmakers who are members of a European parliamentary assembly are boycotting a debate on whether to punish their country over its takeover of Crimea.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a grouping of lawmakers from 47 countries that includes Russia and Ukraine, on Thursday debated whether to suspend Russia's voting rights and eject its members from leadership positions.
At least three members of the Russian delegation, including a lawmaker targeted by both European Union and U.S. sanctions, originally signed up to speak in the debate.
The Council of Europe is the continent's human rights watchdog and its court issues binding decisions, although the assembly doesn't pass laws.
In a tweet, Russian delegation chief Alexey Pushkov called the debate a "farce that can only elicit revulsion."
