Russia formally withdraws from the European Convention against Torture, ending international oversight mechanism

Russia has formally terminated its participation in the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The termination of the international agreement will take effect on November 1, 2026. The announcement was issued by the press office of the Council of Europe.

Russian authorities notified the organization of their decision to withdraw on October 30, 2025. According to Article 22 of the Convention, withdrawal takes effect one year after formal notification.

Russia signed the Convention following its accession to the Council of Europe in 1996, and the treaty entered into force for the country in 1998. Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe was effectively terminated in 2022.

The Convention establishes an international monitoring system to safeguard the rights of individuals in detention. It created the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, whose independent experts have the right to visit prisons, pre-trial detention centers, and other institutions, conduct interviews with detainees, and issue reports.

According to data from the Council of Europe, between 1998 and 2021, the committee conducted 30 visits to Russia, inspecting more than 450 detention facilities. However, Russian authorities permitted the publication of only four inspection reports.

The Council of Europe stated that Russia’s withdrawal from the Convention terminates the committee’s authority to monitor detention conditions in the country. Nevertheless, the termination of the treaty does not affect the existing prohibition on torture under Russian law.

Earlier, Life.ru reported that Vladimir Putin signed legislation to abolish the European Convention against Torture. The decision is interpreted as a reflection of Russia’s inability to fully participate in the work of Council of Europe institutions, due in part to longstanding disagreements over representation rights.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1880800575709380/

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