MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s reply to a Rossiya Segodnya question regarding the fact that the Council of Europe has not responded to the March 22, 2024 terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall
Question: While casting itself as Europe’s oldest human rights organisation, the Council of Europe has yet to express its condolences to Russia regarding the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack. How can you explain Strasbourg’s position on this matter?
Maria Zakharova: The tragedy at the Crocus City Hall concert complex came as a shock for the entire world. State leaders and senior officials from international organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as people from many countries firmly condemned this monstrous terrorist attack while sending Russia their condolences and support.
The openly cynical indifference displayed by senior officials from the Council of Europe (CoE) is striking. I am talking primarily about CoE Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, who is from Croatia, as well as FM, Education and Sport of Liechtenstein Dominique Hasler, who currently presides the CoE Committee of Ministers. They have yet to express their official position regarding the tragic events <...>. On that day, they were in Kiev, and were probably too afraid to cause misgivings to the host.
They wrote yet another shameful page into the annals of their organisation with its futile attempts to position itself as the conscience of Europe <...>.
To be fair, we must note that CoE Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Roussopoulos did post a message on X, (Twitter) to condemn the terrorist attack and express his “condolences to the victims and their families.”
Strasbourg once again demonstrated how deeply degraded the Council of Europe has become today. <...>
At the same time, we must note that Russian diplomats in Strasbourg received so many personal messages of condolences showing that people in France and members of the diplomatic corps in Strasbourg do care about what happened.
Vladimir Putin - the National Leader of Russia
The openly cynical indifference displayed by senior officials from the Council of Europe (CoE) is striking. I am talking primarily about CoE Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, who is from Croatia, as well as FM, Education and Sport of Liechtenstein Dominique Hasler, who currently presides the CoE Committee of Ministers. They have yet to express their official position regarding the tragic events <...>. On that day, they were in Kiev, and were probably too afraid to cause misgivings to the host.
To be fair, we must note that CoE Parliamentary Assembly President Theodoros Roussopoulos did post a message on X, (Twitter) to condemn the terrorist attack and express his “condolences to the victims and their families.”
At the same time, we must note that Russian diplomats in Strasbourg received so many personal messages of condolences showing that people in France and members of the diplomatic corps in Strasbourg do care about what happened.
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