Suspend Russia's voting rights in the Council of Europe

In view of the recent delivery of armaments from Russia to Syria, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) has called for revocation of the Russian delegation's voting rights in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In written communications sent to the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe as well as to member nations, the human rights organization called on the assembly to hold a vote on the suspension of voting rights for Russia before the current session ends this Friday.

"While the European Union is tightening sanctions against Syria, President Assad is coming under increasing pressure from the US and others, and severe human rights abuses are a daily occurrence in Syria, Russia is taking a clear stand against Europe with its sale of fighter jets," stated the STP in their letter. "Russia must bear the consequences of its latest deal with the dictator in Damascus! With their arms policies, Russia is undermining all efforts to end the terrible human rights abuses in Syria and to advance democratization. Suspension of voting rights would at least send a signal to Russian leaders, letting them know that Europe is serious about human rights," the letter continues.

A Russian daily newspaper, "Kommersant," reported on January 23, 2012 that Russia was preparing to sell 36 fighter jets, worth approximately 425 million euros, to Syria. The Yak-130 fighters are primarily used for ground attacks. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has had close ties with Syria and has supplied the Gulf nation in the past with planes, rockets, tanks and other modern weapons systems. As recently as mid-January of 2012, Russia sent 60 tons of munitions to Syria. "The words of criticism against these Russian policies must be followed up by actions; otherwise, the Council of Europe, the oldest existing council for the protection of human rights, will lose its credibility," concludes the STP in its letter.