The Russian government has proposed that Vladimir Putin denounce the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and all its protocols. The resolution was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Human rights advocates note that in recent years Moscow had already failed to meet its obligations under the document and had not allowed international experts into penal colonies.
The convention was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1987. Russia joined the Council of Europe in 1996 and signed the document in 1997. It created the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, or CPT, whose representatives may enter prisons, pre-trial detention centers, psychiatric hospitals, and other places of detention without prior notice, inspect conditions, and prepare reports.
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country lost participation in several European legal mechanisms. Human rights groups say this new step will primarily affect prisoners: once Russia leaves, it will no longer be required to admit CPT inspectors, and complaints from Russian inmates to the committee will no longer be considered.
The rights group Pervy Otdel recalls that since 1996, CPT experts had regularly visited Russian institutions and reported torture and harsh detention conditions. After a 1998 visit, they pointed to overcrowded cells, poor sanitation, and inadequate medical care. In the 2000s, the committee reported systematic torture in Chechnya and other parts of the North Caucasus, and its 2003 report referred to a “culture of impunity” among security forces.
“After withdrawal, Russia will no longer be obliged to admit international inspectors to its prisons. Complaints to the CPT from Russian prisoners will no longer be reviewed,” lawyers said.
Olga Sadovskaya, deputy head of Team Against Torture, said the CPT visited Russia 30 times, with the last visit in 2021, and produced 27 reports. According to her, even with limited publicity, the committee helped bring about prison repairs and reduce overcrowding. At the same time, the group’s head, Sergey Babinets, said the practical impact would likely be limited because Russia had already chosen to abandon compliance with international commitments. Rights advocates also stress that Russia still remains a party to the UN Convention against Torture, preserving the option of filing complaints with the relevant UN committee.