Context
Russia quit the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights watchdog, ahead of a vote by the organisation to expel it.
About Council of Europe
- The Council of Europe was formed in 1949.
- It seeks to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law across Europe.
- It currently counts 47 member states
- Headquarters: Strasbourg, France
- Founding nations: 10 western European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom)
- Russia joined the Council of Europe in 1996.
- It becomes only the second country to ever leave the human rights body.
- Greece withdrew in 1969 when it was under military dictatorship but rejoined in 1974.
What Russia’s departure from the Council of Europe mean?
- Russia's withdrawal heralds the end of its 26 year membership of the Council and also signals that Moscow is no longer required to abide by the laws of the Council's international court — the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
