A post-election delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), ending a two-day visit to Moscow (20-21 January), has welcomed widespread indications – from across the political spectrum – of the need for political change in Russia, and called for this change to be substantial and sustainable. It should not be a survival mechanism, the delegation said.

The six-member delegation said that Russian voters, whatever their political views, were making increasingly clear their preference for elections that are conducted fairly, and called on the politicians to respond to this need as an urgent priority.

The delegation was visiting Russia just ahead of the Assembly's winter plenary session, which is due to debate Russia's parliamentary elections on Monday 23 January. (more...)