Russia’s Lawmakers Vote To Quit The European Court Of Human Rights

Russia – Russia’s lawmakers voted to quit the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday amid the conflict with the Council of Europe. Subsequently, the parliament passed a pair of bills, ending the European Court of Human Rights’ jurisdiction in the country.

Parliament’s lower house, the Duma, approved two bills after Russia announced plans to exit the human rights court amid the conflict in Ukraine. The bills were passed nearly unanimously, with only one deputy from the opposition Communist Party voting against the bills.

The Russian parliament passed a pair of bills

One bill aims to remove the country from the court’s jurisdiction and the second bill sets March 15 as the cut-off point, which means rulings against Russia made after that date will not be implemented. Reportedly, the bill needs to be signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin before becoming law.

On March 15, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to expel Russia from the organization in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February. Later on, Russia said that it independently decided to leave the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe

The Council of Europe was founded after World War Two to promote human rights and democracy in Europe, under President Boris Yeltsin. The Council of Europe is responsible for the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Council of Europe accepted Russia’s membership on 28 February 1996. After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia was stripped of its voting rights in the Council.

War crimes by Russian authorities in Ukraine

Russian authorities have been accused of committing war crimes against Ukrainians. Russia’s war crimes in Ukraine include killing civilians, rape, sexual violence against women, taking hostages, torture, and bombing homes. Russian soldiers raped 25 Ukrainian women in a basement of a house in the city of Bucha.