Russia will pay its contribution to the Council of Europe’s budget only after its powers are restored in full, the head of Russia’s delegation, Deputy State Duma (lower house) Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy said on Tuesday, ''TASS'' reports.
"First, Russia’s powers will be restored, and then we will speak about this," Tolstoy said.
Russia won’t tolerate any restrictions on its basic and other powers in PACE, he stressed. "The powers are challenged in general. There is no such a procedure as dividing powers into key and less important ones," the politician said.
"We are not planning to tolerate any sanctions against the Russian delegation, any damage to our powers," he warned.