Strasbourg

All 20 opposition members of Strasbourg's municipal council walked out of a council session, in what local outlet Pokaa describes as a surreal moment. The departure has raised questions about political tensions within the city government and what prompted the coordinated exit.

Germany's Foreign Minister has reaffirmed the country's commitment to the Council of Europe, according to an announcement by the Strasbourg-based organisation. The pledge signals continued German support for the pan-European body's work on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Beyond the reaffirmation itself, no further details about the timing, occasion or specific initiatives announced have been made available.

Ukrainian human rights defenders, former civilian prisoners released from Russian captivity, and relatives of people still held by Russia addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, calling on European politicians to raise the release of civilian prisoners at every negotiation with Moscow. The activists argue that the fate of unlawfully detained civilians must be a standing item on all negotiation agendas.

Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said the organisation is building a common legal space for an international order he described as being in rupture. The remarks underline the Strasbourg-based body's role in upholding shared legal and human rights standards across its member states at a time of growing geopolitical tension.