“If we uphold the main values ​​of PACE, then, first of all, we must proceed from the priority of human rights. If we proceed from it, then among the most important rights is the right to self-determination of citizens of certain territories, ”Novikov explained.

He emphasized that Crimeans democratically returned to the Russian Federation.

The deputy also noted that if Ukrainian politicians are going to continue to use this “card” to create additional problems and to put Russia in a difficult position in the PACE of the Council of Europe, they, according to the parliamentarian, will act contrary to the interests of the Ukrainian people.

“Because everything that breaks up brings discord between Russia and Ukraine, this in no way meets the interests of our, in fact, united people,” Novikov added.

Earlier, Razumkov at a meeting with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Peichinovich-Burich ruled out a compromise on the issue of Russia's return to the Parliamentary Assembly.

He also assured that the Baltic Plus group created in the organization with the participation of Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Georgia does not seek a destructive position in the Council of Europe and is committed to upholding PACE's “core values”.

On June 26, PACE adopted a resolution confirming the credentials of the Russian delegation in full.

Crimea became the Russian region after the 2014 referendum, in which the majority of the peninsula's people supported reunification with Russia.