Russia Withdraws from the Convention Against Torture: What This Means for Prisoners.

According to FREEДOM:

Russia's Withdrawal from the Convention Against Torture

Russia intends to withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. This will limit European committees' access to places where Ukrainian prisoners of war are held. Lawyer Yuriy Belous, who is collecting evidence of Russian war crimes against Ukraine, noted that this confirms the existence of systemic torture in Russia as part of its policy.

Western Response

According to Belous, the West will not seriously respond to Russia's decision to withdraw from the convention.

'In principle, the withdrawal from this convention has several dimensions. From a purely legal standpoint, there is a European committee that could visit places of detention, prisons, colonies, and psychiatric hospitals. They could visit these places, publish reports, apply to Russia, for example, and thus contribute, using a preventive mechanism,' Belous noted.

Russia's Ignorance

Since 2022, Russia has ignored all requests from the European committee and has not provided access to places of detention.

'Committee members even issued a public statement that Russia behaves this way. This public statement is equivalent to an international call for condemnation. This is an international disgrace for a country that does not fulfill its obligations, which Russia itself undertook in 1998. They ratified this convention and subsequently failed to comply. During Russia's time in this convention, there have been 30 visits to places of detention and 27 reports, of which 23 Moscow refused to publicly demonstrate,' the lawyer reported.

Political Context

Belous believes that Russia's decision to withdraw from the Convention is purely a political step.

'If in the late 1990s Russia was open to democratic institutions and legal oversight, then today politically, the withdrawal from this convention is, of course, a red card to the European legal family and a red card to those traditions from Russia that are considered acceptable in civilized countries,' he expressed his opinion.

Continuation of Torture Practices

The lawyer also emphasized that the prohibition of torture should arise at the earliest stages.

'Russia today does not recognize the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. This convention is a foundational document of the 20th century in Europe with a clear mechanism for protecting oneself specifically in relations with the state. It is a limitation for the state to commit all kinds of abuses. Russia has withdrawn from the European Convention on Human Rights, has left the Council of Europe. And today, the logical continuation, if we look already in the political context, is the withdrawal from the European Convention on the Prevention of Torture. This is a clear signal that no one can monitor Russia, no one can control it, and no one will. And this somewhat confirms in practice that torture in Russia is part of state policy,' Belous emphasized.

According to the lawyer, Russian military actively use torture against Ukrainians in occupied territories, violating not only the European Convention but also the Geneva Conventions.

Russia's withdrawal from the Convention against Torture underscores the continuing irresponsibility of the country regarding human rights compliance. Given the ongoing violations of international law norms, this step only reinforces calls to the international community for the necessity of ensuring oversight of the situation in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine.