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Following the Ukrainian delegation’s protest, PACE agreed to adopt an amendment regarding Putin but excluded the word "terrorist"

Anna PaskevychPolitics

The Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has refused to register an amendment recognizing Russian dictator Vladimir Putin as responsible for numerous acts of terror against civilians. After the Ukrainian delegation was outraged, the PACE agreed to consider the amendment, but only if the word "terrorist" was removed from the text.

This was reported to the Ukrainian media by Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Merezhko, who, along with three other co-authors, initiated the amendment. According to him, the incident occurred during the work on the resolution "Europe's Commitment to a Just and Sustainable Peace in Ukraine," which PACE is considering on Thursday.

The day before, the Assembly was registering proposals for the resolution.

Merezhko, other PACE members, including five representatives of Ukraine, including the head of the Verkhovna Rada delegation, and Swedish representative Markus Wiechel proposed an amendment that referred to the Kremlin's head.

Had it been adopted, PACE would have"recognized that Vladimir Putin is a terrorist, under whose leadership numerous acts of terror against civilians have been committed."

However, after all the parliamentarians' proposals were published, this amendment was not among them.

In a response explaining this refusal, the PACE Secretariat informed the Network in writing that "the designation of the head of state as a terrorist is tantamount to the use of offensive and obscene terms, which are inappropriate in an official document of the Assembly."

"The Secretariat refers to the fact that amendments cannot contain personal insults. But, excuse me, it is clear to every international lawyer that "terrorist" is a legal term. Moreover, the Assembly has already recognized Russia as a terrorist regime!" Merezhko told reporters.

He added that "it is not the secretariat's job to decide what is offensive to whom."

"There are PACE members who can reject my amendment. This is how the democratic process works. And what has happened now is an act of political censorship," the MP said.

Later, amid the scandal, the PACE agreed to register the amendment, provided that the Verkhovna Rada members agreed to remove the word "terrorist" in reference to Putin from the text.

Merezhko and other co-authors agreed, the media reported.

To consider the amended amendment, the Assembly was forced to deviate from its procedures and put the amendment to a vote without considering it in committee.

The following wording was put to a vote in the hall: "PACE recognizes that Vladimir Putin must be held accountable for the numerous acts of terror committed against civilians during his rule."

"77 deputies voted in favor, one voted against (Belgian socialist Christophe Lacroix), and six abstained.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on January 30, the PACE adopted a resolution calling for a reduction in the price limit for oil from Russia, a complete ban on Russian gas imports, and tougher measures against the "shadow fleet" that helps to circumvent sanctions. These steps should reduce the financing of Russia's military aggression and increase economic pressure on Moscow.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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