Council of Europe calls on Russia to reverse decision recognizing 'DPR' and 'LPR' as 'republics'

That's according to a statement made by Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, Ukrinform reports.

"The recognition of the so-called 'people's republics' of Donetsk and Luhansk by the Russian Federation is in violation of international law and represents a unilateral breach of the Minsk agreements - which remain the only basis for a settlement of the conflict in Donbas. The Council of Europe affirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," the document reads.

"We call on the Russian Federation to reverse this decision and abstain from further aggravating the situation," Pejčinović Burić said.

"We insistently call our member states to solve their disagreement through dialogue based on respect of the principles enshrined in the Statute of the Council of Europe, and in the European Convention on Human Rights," the statement said.

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR."

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