Russia joined the Council of Europe
... that when Russia joined the Council of Europe in 1996, "no serious observer believed that it met the criteria for membership"?
... that when <b id="mwgw"><a href="./Russia_in_the_Council_of_Europe" id="mwhA" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Russia in the Council of Europe">Russia joined the Council of Europe</a></b> in 1996, "no serious observer believed that it met the criteria for membership"?