President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law officially withdrawing Russia from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, as Moscow distances itself from Western institutions it has been expelled from or left following its military offensive in Ukraine.
Although Russia was expelled from the Council of Europe in March 2022, it had technically remained a party to the convention, which aims to strengthen the rights of individuals deprived of liberty and allows monitors to inspect prisons and detention centers.
Explanatory notes accompanying the law, passed by Russia’s parliament, cited “discrimination” by the Council of Europe for refusing to appoint a Russian representative to its statutory bodies. Russia’s foreign ministry said the withdrawal would not harm citizens and emphasized that the country “remains committed to its international human-rights obligations.”
However, two UN special rapporteurs have raised concerns, warning that the move “raises red flags about what is going on behind bars” in Russian prisons.
The decision follows repeated international criticism of Russia’s human rights record during its offensive in Ukraine. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe last week accused Moscow of “widespread and systematic violations” against Ukrainian prisoners of war, including arbitrary killings.
A UN report has similarly documented patterns of serious violations against Ukrainian civilian detainees by Russian authorities.
The withdrawal is part of a broader trend in which Russia has stepped away from international organizations and agreements amid growing tensions with Western nations.
Observers say the move could further isolate Russia diplomatically and complicate international monitoring of human rights conditions within the country.