This time it is official. By decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe announced earlier this afternoon, the Russian Federation is excluded from the pan-European organisation as of Wednesday 16 March.
The Russian flag is no longer flying on the square in Strasbourg alongside those of the 46 other Council of Europe member states. It was removed in the process, as was the plaque that identified it with the date of Russian accession, 28 February 1996.
This decision of...