Russians set to withdraw from European Convention for the Prevention of Torture – ISW
Moscow is preparing to withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported in an analytical report dated August 26.
"The Russian Cabinet of Ministers proposed on August 25 that Putin submit a decree to the Russian State Duma to withdraw from the convention," ISW said, adding that the proposal had already been signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The report also cited a statement by Andrey Lugovoi, deputy chairman of the State Duma's security committee, that Russia's withdrawal from the convention would be a formality, as Russia had already withdrawn from the Council of Europe following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and that the European Convention on Human Rights applies double standards to Russia.
"The proposed withdrawal would be in line with recent Russian measures likely aimed at worsening Russian abuses of Ukrainian prisoners in Russia and occupied Ukraine, including Putin’s July 23 decree authorizing the creation of autonomous Federal Security Service (FSB) pre-trial detention facilities. ISW has observed numerous independent investigations from early 2025 detailing a systematic increase in Russia's torture of Ukrainians held in Russian detention," the report said.