TASS: Russia Will No Longer Participate in Council of Europe

Russia will no longer participate in the Council of Europe, the TASS news agency reported.

In a statement on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry said that NATO and European Union countries were undermining the European body designed to uphold human rights, rule of law, and democracy.

The Council of Europe is an international organization founded in the wake of World War II to advocate freedom of expression and of the media, freedom of assembly, equality, and the protection of minorities.

The organization consists of 47 Member States.