Invented in France, the regime of entry into the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) can be called discriminatory in relation to Russian delegations. This was stated by RIA Novosti source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
Commenting on the situation with vaccine restrictions, the Foreign Ministry noted that they were always treated with understanding of measures that other countries are taken to combat the proliferation of coronavirus. At the same time, the rules for the reception of Russian representatives arriving in Strasbourg for the Council of Europe events put them in a deliberately unequal position in comparison with representatives of other countries due to the need to work remotely.
Diplomats noted that the “satellite V” Russians are strongly limited in movements. “The procedure for obtaining permission to enter them is extremely complex. They are allowed to move exclusively from the hotel to the venue. Exit to the city is prohibited,” – pointed out in the department.
“Of course, we do not convince us that such measures are dictated by concern about the health of citizens in the context, when Russian vaccines have not been certified in the European Medical Agency,” they told in the ministry. According to the source in the Foreign Ministry, the current situation suggests an attempt to create competitive advantages for Western vaccines and pharmaceutical companies.
Earlier, the Russian delegation refused to attend the autumn session of PACE due to the “discriminatory position” in comparison with delegates from other countries. The head of the Russian delegation, the Vice-Speaker of the State Duma Petr Tolstoy said that the Russian side will make sure that the work remotely. The PACE stressed that delegates can use all vaccines approved by the organization’s member countries, including “satellite V”.