<span style="color: #222222;">The Council of Europe has expelled Russia from the continent's foremost human rights body in an unprecedented move over its military operation  in Ukraine. The 47-nation organization's committee of ministers said in a statement that the Russian Federation ceases to be a member of the Council of Europe as from today, after 26 years of membership. The decision comes on the heels of weeks of condemnation of Russia's actions in Ukraine.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> <br />'' Early in the week, the group's parliamentary assembly already initiated the process of expulsion and unanimously backed that Russia would be kicked out.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted today that it would have left the body regardless. In an interview with Russian broadcaster RBK, he accused NATO and EU countries of abusing their majority in the council, eventually transforming it into a tool for anti-Russian policy. Ukraine is also a member of the Council of Europe.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''<br />''Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba immediately welcomed the decision, posting on Twitter that there is no place for Russia in European bodies as it wages a barbaric war of aggression against Ukraine and commits multiple war crimes.</span><br />