Just want to point out, in case of some people getting confused, the Council of Europe is a distinct entity from the European Union, having little power as compared to the latter.
It's obviously a terrible decision, given Russia plainly doesn't meet requirements for the membership. At this rate they might just as well admit Belarus.
Yea it is totally useless just like the CIS is. I remember seeing maps as kid in the 1990's and they labelled the ex USSR as the CIS.
I wouldn't call the Council of Europe "useless" just because of that admitelly terrible decision. It did have a positive effect on fostering democracy in Europe over the years.
