A number of representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) challenged the powers of the Russian delegation at the opening of the winter session on Monday, TASS reported.

Such an initiative was made by the delegate of Lithuania Zingeris Emanuelis.

All requirements are met, the credentials of the Russian delegation are forwarded to the monitoring committee, he will prepare a report, the PACE meeting host said after the speech.

Latvian MP Maria Golubeva also called for challenging the powers of the Russian delegation on substantial grounds amid the participation of representatives of the Crimea, as well as because of the participation of politicians from this region in the federal parliamentary elections in Russia.

Challenging procedure

According to PACE regulations, all national delegations should send applications for participation in the assembly of the current year before the start of the first session of the year. The credentials of delegations are automatically confirmed if no objections are received from PACE members. To challenge the authority on substantial grounds, at least 30 MPs from at least five national delegations should stand in the plenary room.

The monitoring committee prepares a report and a draft resolution within 24 hours. Until the announcement of the report and the adoption of the resolution, the delegation has all the rights. According to the draft resolution on ratification of the delegation’s credentials, in relation to which the contestation procedure is being conducted, it does not have the right to vote.