The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a law on the termination of international treaties of the Council of Europe, in which Russia has not actually participated since March 2022.
According to the state propaganda agency TASS, the deputies unanimously approved the refusal to comply with the Charter of the Council of Europe and the denunciation of 20 more agreements with the organization.
A bill to this effect was introduced on January 17 by Russian President and war criminal Vladimir Putin.
So, Russia withdraws from the treaties and refuses the charter in connection with the termination of membership in the Council of Europe. But she ceased to be a member of the organization in the spring.
In connection with the termination of Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe, to consider the following international treaties as having ceased to apply to Russia from March 16, 2022: the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of November 4, 1950, the Russian media quote the bill.
Also terminated in Russia such agreements with the Council of Europe:
- European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism;
- Statute of the Council of Europe of May 5, 1949;
- General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe of September 2, 1949;
- European Social Charter of 1996, as well as about ten other protocols.
On February 25 – the day after the start of the invasion of Ukraine – the Council of Europe suspended Russia’s membership in the organization.
On March 15, Russia announced its intention to withdraw from the Council of Europe and the Convention on Human Rights, the main European treaty on the basis of which it participated in the work of the ECtHR.
And on March 16, the Council of Europe itself expelled Russia from among its members.
Treaties are denounced retroactively, from 16 March. Why Putin introduced the denunciation bill only in January is unknown.
However, BBC interlocutors pointed out that amendments to the Russian laws “On the state of emergency” and “On martial law” could become a serious consequence of the denunciation. These laws may be excluded from the requirement that they comply with Russia’s international obligations in the field of human rights.
The state of emergency law states that Russia must report on the “temporary restriction” of the rights and freedoms of citizens provided for by the Convention on Human Rights, the scope and reasons for derogation from it. Martial law must be introduced by law on the basis of international treaties in this area and in accordance with them.
Source: Racurs
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