Lavrov announced a radical revision of Russia’s international obligations

Russia is reviewing obligations in international organizations in which the interests of the country are being infringed, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the “Government Hour” in the State Duma.

“Work is underway across the entire spectrum of our international obligations. In this regard, the topic of contributions to organizations where our interests are infringed is also considered. We are delaying the payment of dues,” the minister said.

According to the diplomat, the Foreign Ministry is already conducting an appropriate inventory: Moscow is withdrawing from some conventions and agreements that have already lost their relevance. “There is no politics here,” Lavrov added.

January 17 President Vladimir Putin introduced for consideration by the State Duma a draft law on the termination of international treaties of the Council of Europe in Russia. Against the backdrop of the start of a special operation in Ukraine, the Council of Europe on February 25, 2022 suspended the representation of Russia in the statutory bodies of the Council of Europe. In this regard, on March 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry handed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Pejchinovich-Burich a notice of the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the organization.

16 March Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe accepted decision to exclude Russia from the organization after 26 years of membership. The Russian authorities stressed that the country itself had withdrawn from the Council of Europe, which also implies withdrawal from the ECtHR.