The tone of the debate on the situation in Ukraine, held on Wednesday, the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), was much more critical towards Kiev than in the beginning of the year.
On Wednesday the discussion of the PACE Ukraine took part in the lack of the Russian delegation refused to participate in the sessions of the Assembly, as long as she doesn't return the right key. Russian MPs expected that the discussion will result in a series of accusations against the Russian capital, but it wasn't. Still theses About the violation by Russia of the Minsk agreements, "separatists" in Eastern Ukraine, supplying weapons to the conflict zone, the need to return to the Crimea and to release Nadiya Savchenko was also voiced by many speakers. However, in a reversal from past sessions, when criticism of Russia was accompanied by the almost unconditional support of the Ukrainian authorities, this time the deputies of the PACE spoken in Kiev unusually tough. One of the important criticisms have been that the Ukrainian authorities are slow to implement vitally important for the state's reforms, instead of taking a "symbolic" laws (such as banning the imposition of Nazism and communism). The head of the political group of the Alliance of liberals and Democrats for Europe " (this group is usually the most harshly criticizes Rossi.) Spaniard Jordi Chuckle subjected to charges of Kiev in the absence of the desire " to move forward on the issue of regional elections ": "the Parliament made a promise to the population of local elections, laws, covering all the territory, and Among these is the region beyond the control of Kiev. However, the Ukrainian authorities do not want to move forward on the issue under consideration because the results of the elections have the opportunity to give unwanted results in the East of the country." Speaking About the Minsk agreements, the MP said: "violate all parties to the conflict ", writes " Kommersant ". On the need for serious reforms in Ukraine and dialogue with Russia, said the former Chairman of the PACE, and now the parliamentary Assembly Jean-Claude Mignon. The head of the group "United left" Tina Cox said: "Ukraine is in deep crisis, respect this will be the first step to solving the problem. A corrupt political class and the oligarchs are destroying the country from within. The Ukrainian authorities must stop taking irresponsible laws and stop political assassinations. Russia, EU, NATO, UN all have a collective responsibility for it."
for the first time after the change of power in Ukraine, criticism of the leadership of the country sounded in PACE from the lips of members of the Ukrainian delegation. The MP of the Verkhovna Rada from the "Opposition bloc Yulia Levochkina "complained" killing members of the former ruling party, corruption, lack of freedom of speech "." We wanted democracy, but not approached on a step, " said she. However, the main message of the Ukrainian delegation was the fact that during the five months of the new Parliament, many things have changed and today you can watch " in the Eastern part of Europe's emerging new European nation ". What about to Kiev Among members of the PACE " fresh trends ", said the head of the socialist group and Rapporteur on Russia Andreas gross. He was confident that " a new critical report on Ukraine will undoubtedly be - prepared-Maybe next year.". However, He added that Russia, whose range of capabilities in PACE will aluminates in June, to rely on the goodwill of people's deputies of the PACE also is not necessary. In the Russian delegation is satisfied with its lack of PACE session there was a discussion." Among the deputies of the Assembly of the changing attitude to what is happening in Ukraine. Unconditional support of the Maidan replaced by disappointment because there are no positive changes in the development of democratic institutions, no investigation of political assassinations, ongoing conflict in the Donbass, is artificially constrained regional elections, " said a member of the Russian delegation, Senator Igor Morozov.- Played the role of another important factor: the debate has not occurred in Russia, which previously accumulated all critical potential PACE. We decided not to participate in the spring and summer sessions, although the guide Assembly agitates us, to give the European deputies to recover a bit. The current debate has shown that the opponents object shifts towards real violations of democratic norms."

sections: Politics