Стр. 12 - V

Author : V. Chernega
Consultant for the Council of Europe, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Doctor of
Science (Law)
THE CONFRONTATION between Russia and the West
sparked by the Ukrainian crisis has affected many aspects of
their mutual relations, including those in the format of the
Council of Europe.
This article, in addition to looking at relations between Russia
and the Council of Europe, makes a brief review of this prob-
lem. But it appears reasonable to start with an abstract of the
Council's history from its inception in 1949 to the present day,
a history that has determined the Council's role in Europe, and
consequently its significance for Russia.
It is in the objective interest of Russia to continue to cooperate
with the Council of Europe. There is no alternative to this be-
cause, generally speaking, such cooperation is the main guarantee that the country will remain
part of pan-European civilization, even during its present-day confrontation with the West.
Today, no other organization can replace the Council as the main builder of a common human-
itarian space in Europe, or shoulder the Council's role in passing pan-European conventional
law and controlling its enforcement, a role that remains one of the Council's core activities.
Of course, the Council of Europe, being a Western institution, has repeatedly used double stan-
dards which is an extra source of tension. PACE has practiced this especially often.
Today, the Council of Europe and PACE take a completely different line on the civil war in
Ukraine. The territorial integrity principle is given paramount importance and the use of force
against the "separatists" is seen as legitimate. Formally, both sides are held responsible for human
rights violations, but interest is mainly taken in the militias' human rights records.
Even the European Court of Human Rights sometimes shows doublestandards in its judgments
on Russia.
Even more Russians have been taught such methods during courses in Russia organized by the
Council of Europe. Not all such methods are applicable in Russia but the majority is accepted
as useful and amount to what are not always noticeable but on the whole very valuable contri-
butions to the humanitarian evolution of the country's society and state, making improvements
to the education system and penitentiary practices, among other things.
It is likewise in the interest of the Council of Europe to collaborate with Russia despite all the
controversies and frictions described above. Without Russia, there can be no Greater Europe,
something that has always been and remains the Council's raison d'etre.
Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Russia and the Council of Europe