DISINFO: NATO Parliamentary Assembly was created for confrontation with Russia

Recurring pro Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO attempting to encircle and weaken Russia. The disinformation message appeared after the president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly stated that the organization does not intend to return the status of an observer to the delegation of Russia. NATO Parliamentary Assembly was created in 1955 to provide a specialised forum for members of parliament from across the Atlantic Alliance to discuss and influence decisions on Alliance security. Through its work and activities, the Assembly facilitates parliamentary awareness and understanding of the key issues affecting the security of the Euro-Atlantic area, and supports national parliamentary oversight over defence and security. For more than two decades, NATO has worked to build a partnership with Russia, developing dialogue and practical cooperation in areas of common interest. Relations started after the end of the Cold War, when Russia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (1991). The NATO Parliamentary Assembly initiated first contacts with Parliamentarians from the former Soviet Union even before the end of the Cold War, and the Supreme Soviet was granted the newly created status of associate member in 1990. NATO-Russian cooperation has been suspended since 2014 in response to Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.