The Strasbourg-based assembly said Tuesday he would be one of 11 deputies from the lower house of Russia's parliament, the State Duma, and seven members of the Federation Council, or upper house, in a single Russian delegation.
A Council of Europe spokesman said Zhirinovsky's credentials had been ratified and France was bound to grant him a visa automatically under its host nation agreement with the Council.
"Parliaments are free to designate their delegations," the spokesman said. "It is none of our business."
The assembly, the parliamentary arm of the 32-nation Council, which promotes democracy, human rights and cooperation throughout Europe, meets four times a year. The Russian parliament has special guest status. The next session is set for April 11-15.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in January that Paris would not allow a visit by the extreme rightist.
A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said any request for a visa for Zhirinovsky to attend the Strasbourg assembly "will be examined in the framework of the host agreement which France has concluded with the Council of Europe."
Since December, Zhirinovsky, whose Liberal Democratic Party won one-seventh of the seats in the Duma at last year's elections, has been thrown out of or refused visas to a series of European countries including Bulgaria, Germany and Spain.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.