The possible withdrawal of Russia from the Council of Europe and the Brexit could be a real blow for Europe, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland told the Financial Times, RIA Novosti reported.

According to him, if Moscow leaves the organization, a “new dividing line" will appear on the continent. Jagland noted, Russia must be given back the right to vote in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in order to resolve the situation.

The senator recalled that during the years of the “Cold War”, the Council of Europe has been created as a fairly ideological structure.

According to him, over the past two or three decades, the role of the organization has changed significantly.

“Now this is more a unifying mission for all European states that share common values, including democracy, the rule of law and human rights,” he added.

These values are important for Russia as much as for other European states, he concluded.