Russia ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe on Wednesday after 26 years of membership.

"In an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Committee of Ministers decided, in the context of the procedure launched under Article 8 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, that Russia ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership," reads a statement published on the Council website.

On the eve of the announcement, the Vice-Speaker of the State Duma, head of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pyotr Tolstoy announced that the decision of withdrawal of Russia from the Council of Europe was approved and the corresponding letter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was sent to the CE Secretary General.

PACE members had previously unanimously supported Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe.