MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Speaking at a round table at the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, the diplomat noted that Moscow had ratified the conventions, "which were considered necessary."
Commenting on the question whether Russia should have entered the Council of Europe in 1996, Meshkov said that "it had to be done."
The Russian Federation entered the Council of Europe on February 28, 1996, and ratified the European Convention on Human Rights in 1998, confirming by this its commitment to the ideals of democracy and humanism.
Human rights, legal cooperation, combating terrorism, cultural and social affairs are among the issues Moscow cooperates with the Council of Europe on. In particular, Russian nationals have the right appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
