MOSCOW, September 22. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia expects the Ukrainian authorities to officially agree to cooperate with the international consultative group of the Council of Europe, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The ministry said it hopes substantial interaction will take place in investigation of the May 2 events in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa, the May 9 events in Mariupol and other law violations “causing the utmost concern on the part of the European and global public”. Attempts to artificially place time-related restrictions on Council of Europe consultative group investigation of abuses in Ukraine are unacceptable, the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.

“We are calling on Council of Europe member states to exert their influence on Kiev in that matter,” it said.