Russia reveals reasons for withdrawal from Council of Europe's Convention

Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova has said that Russia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities will not impact its ongoing efforts to advocate for the rights of Russian-speaking people on relevant international platforms.

“Most of the member states of the Council of Europe have undermined the convention by blatantly ignoring its role as an international legal tool for protecting the rights of Russian-speaking people from severe violations in the Baltic states and Ukraine. While being participants in the convention, these countries cynically disregard not only its provisions but also other international obligations in this area, which we will continue challenging. Russia’s withdrawal from the Convention will not impede our ongoing efforts on international platforms dedicated to protecting the rights of Russian-speaking citizens,” she said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

On August 1, the Russian Foreign Ministry officially notified of the cessation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in relations between the Russian Federation and other signatories of the convention.

The diplomat emphasised that the principles enshrined in the convention are fully integrated into Russian legislation. Therefore, the termination of Russia’s participation in the treaty will not affect the protection of minority rights across the Russian Federation. Russian legislation and enforcement practices ensure that national minorities have equal rights to participate in the political, economic, and cultural life of society. This includes the rights of citizens to learn their native language and choose their language of education.

Zakharova noted that this action is essentially a formal acknowledgment, as the law on denouncing the convention was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 19, 2023.

She noted that the initial goal of the convention was to strengthen the legal framework of the participating states for the protection of minority rights and to foster international cooperation in this area.

"Unfortunately, the noble intentions that clearly guided the authors of the convention have been distorted to serve the political agendas of a group of Western countries. Following Russia's initiation of its special military operation, the Council of Europe launched a large-scale campaign to expel Russia from the convention mechanisms of the organisation, by preventing Russian experts from participating in decision-making on issues of Russia’s interest. These destructive approaches were formalised in the September 27, 2022, resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe regarding Russia’s participation in the work of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. According to this document, the Russian expert in the Advisory Committee was significantly restricted in the powers under the pretext that Russia was no longer a member of the Council of Europe,” she added.