Russia expelled from Council of Europe over invasion of Ukraine

It is the first time the human rights body has expelled a member state

Firefighters extinguish an apartment house after a Russian rocket attack in Kharki. Picture: AP Photo/Pavel Dorogoy

The Council of Europe on Wednesday expelled Russia from the continent’s foremost human rights body in an unprecedented move over its invasion and war in Ukraine.

The 47-nation organisation’s committee of ministers said in a statement that “the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership.”