Russia's withdrawal from torture convention reveals lawlessness – FM Sybiha
The Russian government's initiative to withdraw from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture is "a continuation of many Russian crimes, including widespread torture, executions and inhuman treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war" and demonstrates that this is "a territory of lawlessness where human life and dignity are worthless," Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha has said.
"The Russian government's decision to initiate the denunciation of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment once again demonstrates that Russia is a territory of lawlessness where human life and dignity are worthless," he said on X on Wednesday.
In his opinion, "this step is a continuation of many Russian crimes, including widespread torture, executions and inhumane treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war. This is part of the Russian regime's systemic policy of torture, which is deeply rooted in Russian history, based on the crimes of the Gulag and Stalinist terror."
As reported with reference to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Russia is withdrawing from a key treaty of the Council of Europe, namely the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture. According to the Service, the relevant resolution was signed by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. The Convention prohibits torture and obliges states not only not to apply it, but also to prevent such practices. For this purpose, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture operates, which has the right to inspect prisons, colonies or psychiatric institutions without hindrance. After Russia's expulsion from the Council of Europe in March 2022, its participation in the Convention remained only formal. The Committee has repeatedly stated that Moscow ignores requests for monitoring visits.
Russia has also denounced the European Convention on Human Rights, and since 2023 the Statute of the Council of Europe, the European Social Charter and a number of other agreements have ceased to apply on its territory. In 2024, the Russian Federation withdrew from the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.