The parliamentary assembly of the OSCE is likely to highlight issues such as tense Russian-Estonian relations, Washington's plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Central Europe, Russian-Georgian discord and the status of Kosovo. Russia's position on these issues is at odds with that of Europe and the United States.
"The delegation will be reduced because we have a lot of work, and we need people here," Boris Gryzlov said.
Gryzlov's announcement follows that of his first deputy, Lyubov Sliska, who said Friday that Russian lawmakers would shun the 56-nation OSCE's summer session in Kiev, as the Ukrainian parliament had been dissolved and was therefore illegitimate.
Parliamentarians of the OSCE, a political dialogue forum of northern hemisphere countries, will meet in Ukraine where President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved parliament in early April amid a continuing power struggle with the prime minister. Early elections have been set for September 30, and the parliament closed Wednesday for the summer recess.
