Russia Notified CSTO Parliaments of Suspension of Participation in the OSCE PA

On June 20, during the online meeting of the heads of parliamentary delegations of the CSTO Member States in the OSCE PA, the participants discussed the coordination of foreign policy activities of the CSTO parliamentarians in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
The meeting was moderated by Aigul Kuspan, Chairwoman of the Committee on International Affairs, Defence and Security of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The parties discussed a number of issues related to the upcoming 31st annual session of the OSCE PA, which will take place from June 29 to July 3, 2024, in Bucharest (Romania), as well as exchanged views on other pressing issues.
Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs and Head of the Parliamentary Delegation of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the OSCE PA, informed his colleagues that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had received a note from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that none of the members of the Russian delegation would receive an entry visa to participate in the meeting in Bucharest.
Pyotr Tolstoy, Head of the delegation, and Vladimir Dzhabarov, his deputy, sent a letter to the leadership of the OSCE PA reporting a violation of all the principles of work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. 
The State Duma and the Federation Council suggested starting a procedure to suspend the participation of the Russian delegation in the OSCE PA's work. 
"It is suggested to prepare and submit for consideration a draft decision of the Federation Council on the suspension of the participation of Russian parliamentarians in the work of the OSCE PA by the next plenary session of our chamber, namely by July 3 this year. In coordination with the State Duma, a similar decision will be adopted almost simultaneously at the plenary session of the lower chamber," Mr. Dzhabarov said.
Sergei Rachkov, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and Head of the parliamentary delegation of the National Assembly of Belarus in the OSCE PA, stated that the Belarusian delegation has always been interested in taking part in the OSCE PA meetings. 
"We have always been very active in the OSCE parliamentary dimension, introducing a number of resolutions that were supported and adopted by our parliamentary community. But recently our delegation has also found it difficult to participate in the Assemblies because of the position of some members of this Organization," Sergei Rachkov noted.
He added that Romania had banned the entry for the members of the Belarusian delegation as well, and therefore the Republic of Belarus has also raised the issue of suspension of its participation in the OSCE PA.