Russia to leave OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and stop transferring funds

Vyacheslav Volodin, Head of the State Duma of Russia, has said that by 21 February, the Duma and the Federation Council would simultaneously decide to suspend Russia's membership in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. 

As reported by The Insider, Volodin called at a plenary session of the State Duma that the OSCE PA "an absolutely non-independent politicised organisation that dances to the tune of Washington".

"The worst thing in this situation is that we are still paying money, and we are one of the largest payers, so we need to withdraw, stop transferring funds," Volodin added.

The Parliamentary Assembly unites 57 member states of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The organisation was established in 1991 to monitor the implementation of the OSCE's goals, develop and implement mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, and promote the strengthening and consolidation of democratic institutions in OSCE participating States. 

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been expelled from many international organisations. In particular, Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe and the UN Human Rights Council.

However, the Russian Federation remains a member of the OSCE, where it obstructs the work of the organisation in every way possible.