Kathrine Frich
The European Convention against Torture was adopted by Council of Europe member states in 1987.
The European Convention against Torture was adopted by Council of Europe member states in 1987.
Russia Moves to Exit Anti-Torture Convention
The Russian government has asked President Vladimir Putin to formally withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture.
The step marks another retreat from international human rights commitments.
Signed by Prime Minister Mishustin
A resolution published Monday showed Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s signature.
It calls not only for leaving the convention but also its additional protocols, effectively cutting ties with Europe’s anti-torture framework.
A Convention Born in 1987
The European Convention against Torture was adopted by Council of Europe member states in 1987.
It established a system of monitoring to prevent torture and degrading treatment in prisons, detention centers, and other facilities.
Russia Ratified in 1998
Russia joined the Council of Europe in 1996 and ratified the anti-torture convention two years later.
For more than two decades, it was part of a system of inspections and reports aimed at safeguarding basic human rights.
Withdrawal Follows War in Ukraine
After launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia began to leave international organizations and treaties.
The decision to abandon the anti-torture convention is part of this wider isolation.
Earlier Human Rights Exits
Moscow has already left the Council of Europe and ended its participation in the European Convention on Human Rights.
Russian courts also stopped enforcing judgments from the European Court of Human Rights.
A Break with European Standards
By leaving the anti-torture convention, Russia signals its rejection of European oversight on prison conditions and treatment of detainees.
Human rights groups say this will make independent scrutiny almost impossible.
