Russian State Duma approves withdrawal from EU’s anti-torture convention

The Russian State Duma has passed a law denouncing the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Duma’s official website.

The document states that Russia will denounce the convention and its protocols, which were signed on behalf of the Russian Federation in Strasbourg on February 28, 1996.

The bill was submitted to the Duma by President Vladimir Putin. He proposed withdrawing not only from the convention, originally adopted on November 26, 1987, but also from the two protocols signed by Russia in Strasbourg in 1996.

Lawmakers emphasised that this step will not reduce legal safeguards in this area, as such protections are already enshrined in Russian law.

By Khagan Isayev