Russia Begins Withdrawal from European Anti-Torture Convention

Russia has initiated the process to withdraw from the European Convention on the Prevention of Torture, with President Vladimir Putin submitting a draft bill to the State Duma to denounce the treaty. This move follows Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe in March 2022 and the blocking of Russian representation on the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture since 2023. Withdrawal from the convention means that international inspectors will no longer have access to Russian detention facilities, and complaints from Russian inmates to the European Committee will no longer be considered. Human rights groups and Ukrainian officials warn that this step could allow Russia to conceal further mistreatment and torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in Russian custody. The convention, which Russia joined in 1996, obliges member states to prevent torture and prohibits extradition to countries where torture is a risk. Critics describe Russia's decision as a clear indication that it disregards human life and dignity, raising serious concerns about lawlessness and human rights abuses within Russia.