Russia Intends to Leave Council of Europe, Opening Door to Reinstating Death Penalty
GHRTV
15-03-2022
Margareta Ana Baksa
Europe Team and Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that the country will no longer participate in the Council of Europe. As said in the statement published on March 10th, Russia would no longer participate in the transformation of the oldest European Organization at the hands of NATO and the EU (Gotev, 2022). This was done before a vote that would likely result in widespread condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This move does not automatically remove Russia from the Council, an organization it has been a part of since 1996, nor does it change Russia’s status as a state party to the European Convention on Human Rights. It is, however, another step in the regression of the state of human rights in Russia.
Deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and former President Dmitry Medvedev had mentioned that leaving the human rights body could open the door to lifting the moratorium on the death penalty that has been in place from 1996. Abolishing the death penalty has been a precondition for accession to the Council since 1989. Leaving the Council of Europe would also mean that the European Court of Human Rights would no longer be available to Russian citizens. Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Rybakov has stated that while Russia has not already left the Council, they were in the process of “drawing a line” (AFP, 2022).
The Council of Europe has previously decided to suspend the Russian Federation from its rights of representation the day after the Russian invasion in Ukraine began. Ukraine has since called for a complete expulsion of Russia from the Council. In a speech given via video link in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on March 14th, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said:
“There must be a tough response. Those who carried out this unprovoked and unjustified aggression cannot remain in this European family - where human life is regarded as the highest value.” (Council of Europe, 2022).
Sources and further reading
AFP. (2022, March 14). Ukraine urges Russia's 'immediate' expulsion from Council of Europe. France 24. https://f24.my/8SyL
Council of Europe. (n.d.). Death Penalty – Factsheet.
Council of Europe. (2022, March 14). Ukrainian Prime Minister demands that Russia be immediately ousted from the Council of Europe.
Gotev, G. (2022, March 10). Russia leaves Council of Europe, avoiding being kicked out. Euractiv. https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/russia-leaves-council-of-europe-avoiding-being-kicked-out/
