The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized that Russia’s decision to initiate the denunciation of the European Convention Against Torture indicates a consistent policy of human rights violations by the Russian Federation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Russia’s Withdrawal from the Convention: Political Context
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Russia once again demonstrates its disregard for human rights, and its territory remains a place where “human life and dignity are worth nothing.” He stressed that this step is a logical continuation of many crimes committed by the Russian regime, including systematic torture, executions, and cruel treatment of captured Ukrainian soldiers.
“This step is a continuation of many Russian crimes, including widespread torture, executions, and inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war. It is part of the systematic torture policy of the Russian regime, which is deeply rooted in Russian history and based on the crimes of the GULAG and Stalinist terror,” Sybiha wrote on social media platform X.
Decision of the Russian Government and Its Consequences
Recently, the Russian government officially proposed to denounce the European Convention Against Torture. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a resolution to submit the corresponding proposal to the President of Russia for further consideration by the State Duma. The published document states Russia’s intention to withdraw not only from the convention itself but also from all accompanying protocols.
It is worth noting that the documents of the Russian government lack justifications for the appropriateness of such a step and an assessment of its possible consequences, despite the legislative requirements regarding international treaties.
The European Convention Against Torture was approved by the Council of Europe in 1987, and Russia ratified it in 1996 after joining the organization. In 2022, following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Council of Europe, and the organization expelled it from its membership. Since then, Moscow has consistently severed ties with international treaties, including ceasing to comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and denouncing a number of key conventions.
Additionally, last month, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported the discovery of 176 permanent places of detention and over 120 temporary (transit) points in the occupied territories and within Russia, where Ukrainian captives are held and tortured.