MOSCOW, March 5 (RAPSI) – Russia has filed an inquiry with the Venice Commission seeking answers on the legitimacy of decisions made by the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (parliament), Speaker for the Russian State Duma Sergei Naryshkin said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine’s new government had no legal authority, and he urged new elections as soon as possible. “The parliament is partially legitimate, but all the rest is not. The acting president does not have any legitimacy,” Putin told reporters.

Putin also said he does not recognize his interim counterpart, acting president Aleksandr Turchinov,and would not work him, though he had instructed the Russian government to establish contact with the new Ukrainian administration.

Head of the department responsible for Russian affairs with Venice Commission Rashad Kurbanov confirmed that “a message was sent today,” citing a confirmation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He added that the rulings made by the Venice Commision are strictly advisory, but the commission may review any motions that concern human rights.

The Venice Commission is an advisory body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts in the field of constitutional law, such as university professors and higher court judges appointed by their governments for terms of four years.

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada ousted and impeached Viktor Yanukovich on February 22, appointed Turchinov as acting president, and scheduled presidential elections for May 25.