Russia exits Council of Europe over Ukraine invasion
-
African oil producers defend need to drill at fossil fuel exit talks
-
Iran officials leave Canada before FIFA Congress over airport 'insult': Iranian media
-
Oil spikes while divided Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged
-
Palace boss Glasner eager for another trophy in Europe
-
Alleged Trump assassin took selfie moments before attack: prosecutors
-
Shomrim: the Jewish volunteers protecting their community
-
Powell to bow out as Fed chief but stay as a governor on legal pressure
-
PSG blow as Hakimi ruled out of Champions League semi-final return
-
'Gritty' Philadelphia pitches itself as low-cost US World Cup choice
-
'I literally was a fool': Musk grilled in OpenAI trial
-
OpenAI facing 'waves' of US lawsuits over Canada mass shooting
-
Trump says US has 'a shot' at crewed Moon landing before presidency ends
-
Hungary's Magyar pushes to unblock EU billions in Brussels
-
London police probe 'terror' incident after two Jewish men stabbed
-
Rob Reiner autopsy report not ready, court hears
-
Rickelton ton in vain as Hyderabad chase down 244 to beat Mumbai
-
US Fed divided at Powell's likely last meeting at helm
-
Draper out of French Open in fresh injury blow
-
King Charles touts 'solidarity' with US at 9/11 memorial
-
Ticket price hikes not affecting summer air travel demand: IATA
-
Liverpool 'expect Salah to be available' before Anfield exit
-
World snooker champion Zhao Xintong succumbs to 'Crucible curse'
-
Australia FM says China agrees to collaborate on jet fuel exports
-
Pentagon chief spars with Democratic lawmakers on Iran war
-
Hungary's Magyar pushes to unblock EU billion in Brussels
-
Departing US still owes money, says WHO chief
-
Joshua warm-up defeat would 'kill' Fury fight, warns promoter Warren
-
Sinner stops Jodar to book spot in Madrid Open semis
-
Pogacar wins opening full stage to take Tour de Romandie lead
-
'River on fire': Toxic fumes as Ukrainian drones pound Russian oil town
-
Pereira aiming to bring European glory back to Forest
-
Uber adds hotel booking in push to become 'everything app'
-
Oil spikes while stocks slip ahead of US Fed rate decision
-
Two Jewish men stabbed in 'terrorist' attack in London
-
End of an era: last hereditary peers exit UK parliament
-
Canada holds key rate steady, says will act if war inflation persists
-
Emery aims to write 'new chapter' in Europe with Villa
-
US Supreme Court curbs race-based voting maps in landmark ruling
-
Guerrillas claim deadly Colombia attack, say it was an 'error'
-
Trump warns Iran better 'get smart soon' and accept nuclear deal
-
UN experts urge Saudi labour practices switch before World Cup
-
Oil spikes while stocks slide ahead of US Fed rate decision
-
US Fed chief's plans in focus as central bank set to hold rates steady
-
Tuareg rebels vow Mali junta 'will fall', north will be captured
-
German inflation jumps in April as energy costs surge
-
Was PSG against Bayern the Champions League's greatest ever game?
-
UBS first-quarter profits jump 80% on investment banking
-
France's 'roadmap' to exit fossil fuels by 2050
-
Chelsea captain Millie Bright retires
-
Bangladesh measles outbreak kills over 220 children since March
Russia exits Council of Europe over Ukraine invasion
Russia on Wednesday ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe after over a quarter of a century of membership in the pan-European rights body, the council said in a statement.
Moscow announced Tuesday that it was quitting the council, ahead of the formal decision taken Wednesday by the body's committee of ministers to expel Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
In a hugely symbolic moment, the flag of Russia was lowered and removed from its staff outside the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg, eastern France, at around 1430 GMT.
The flags of the 46 remaining member states were kept flying.
The committee of ministers, the body's main decision-making organ, decided "the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership".
Russia joined the Council of Europe on February 28, 1996.
On Tuesday, the council's Parliamentary Assembly had agreed that Moscow could no longer be a member of the body, hours after Russia announced it would pull out.
The Russian foreign ministry said it had "no regret" about leaving and claimed that EU and NATO member states had turned the organisation into an "instrument for anti-Russian policies".
The so-called "Ruxit" from the Council of Europe means that Russia will no longer be a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, and its citizens will no longer be able to file applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The leaders of the Council of Europe, including Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric, said in a statement that Russian authorities were depriving "the Russian people of the benefit of the most advanced human rights protection system in the world".
It is only the second time in the history of the council that a member state has announced its exit, after Greece walked out temporarily in the late 1960s.
Russia was suspended from all its rights of representation a day after tens of thousands of troops entered Ukraine on February 24.
Not using the death penalty is a precondition of COE membership, and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy national security council chief, had evoked bringing back capital punishment if Russia left the body.
E.Hall--AT