​Senator Terry Leyden Deputy Leader of Irish Delegation to Council of Europe with co-rapporteur Mr.Ionut Stroe MP from Romania.

During our visit meetings were held with Ministers for Justice & Minister of Interior,Speaker of Parliament  & President Mr.Filip Vujanovic & Prime Minister Mr.Mlio Dukanovic

Please find draft programme of fact finding mission below

Roscommon Senator Terry Leyden has been selected by the Council of Europe as Co-Rapporteur to monitor Montenegro.

Senator Leyden has been on a fact-finding visit to Montenegro since Sunday along with his Co-Rapporteur Kimmo Sasi of Finland.

He’s been meeting the President of Montenegro, Deputy Prime Minister, and Ministers; he’s also attended parliament.

Senator Leyden and Mr Sasi will present their final report to the Council of Europe Assembly in Strasbourg at end of January.

The Roscommon Fianna Fáil Senator says he hopes to foster good relations between Ireland and Montenegro.

At a meeting of the Council of Europe Monitoring Committee in Paris this morning, Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden echoed calls from the Council for the immediate release of the so-called ‘Pussy Riot’ activists.

Senator Leyden is the Deputy Leader of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe and he welcomed the decision of the Council.

“In a democracy, the right to freedom of expression may be subject to conditions intended to protect morals and the rights of others,” said Senator Leyden.

“Any penalties imposed must be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence. The two-year sentence imposed on the three members of the ‘Pussy Riot’ group is hugely disproportionate and we are calling on them to be immediately released.

“I hope that the Russian courts will review this conviction, taking into account the standards set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. 

“To be considered a truly democratic nation, which adheres to the basics of human rights, the Russian courts must review this decision and release the activists, whose punishment did not fit the crimes they are alleged to have committed.