Russia Withdraws From European Convention For Prevention Of Torture

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) This was reported by The Moscow Time , according to Ukrinform.

Following the signing of the law, Russia is no longer obliged to allow international inspectors into prisons and pre-trial detention centers.

In Russia, the withdrawal from the convention was explained by the fact that since December 2023, the country has not been represented in the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture due to the Council of Europe's blocking of the election of a new Russian representative, which Moscow claims left it unable to participate in the body's work.

The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment required Russia not only to formally prohibit torture but also to actively prevent it. To this end, an independent international body was established - the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), which was granted the authority to conduct inspections in places of detention, identify violations, and issue recommendations for improving detention conditions. States parties to the convention are obliged to cooperate with the committee and provide it with unrestricted access to any places of detention.

After Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in March 2022, cooperation with the organization virtually ceased. The committee repeatedly complained that Moscow ignored its requests - in particular concerning visits to penal colonies and high-profile cases, including the death of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny in February 2024.

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As reported by Ukrinform, on August 25, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin proposed denouncing the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

On September 17, the State Duma of the Russian Federation denounced the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The corresponding proposal was submitted on September 8 by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

In addition, Protocols No. 1 and No. 2 to the convention - signed on behalf of Russia in Strasbourg on February 28, 1996, and ratified on March 28, 1998 - were also denounced.

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