UN Experts Criticize Russia's Decision to End Cooperation with European Committee on Prevention of Torture

United Nations special rapporteurs Alice Jill Edwards and Mariana Katzarova have expressed deep concern over the Russian Federation's plan to end its cooperation with the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture. This decision, made without consulting the committee, raises serious questions about the treatment of detainees in Russian custody. The rapporteurs have previously documented widespread and systematic torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.

Key Takeaways:

• The Russian Federation's decision to end cooperation with the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture raises red flags about the treatment of detainees in Russian custody.
• The UN special rapporteurs, Alice Jill Edwards and Mariana Katzarova, have consistently raised concerns about the treatment of persons deprived of their liberty in the Russian Federation.
• The experts have documented widespread and systematic torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war by Russian forces and associated authorities.
• The Russian government announced plans to withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Other Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified by Moscow in 1998.
• As of September 2022, Russia is no longer party to the European Convention on Human Rights, ending oversight of torture violations by the Court.
• The rapporteurs remind Russian authorities that obligations to prevent and protect detainees remain unchanged, despite withdrawal from the mechanism.
• Torture is absolutely prohibited in all circumstances, and all violations must be investigated, prosecuted, and punished according to international law.

Statistics:

• As of September 2022, Russia is no longer party to the European Convention on Human Rights.
• 1998: Russia ratified the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Other Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
• Systematic efforts to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of torture have been woefully inadequate, casting a dark shadow over Russia's human rights record.

Sources:

• United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• European Committee on the Prevention of Torture
• United Nations Treaty Collection, Status of the Convention for the Prevention of Torture, Moscow, 1998
• "Russia withdraws from European Convention on Human Rights as of September 2022", European Court of Human Rights press release, no date provided.