*** modified Thursday 19 May, 10:30 am ***
“Russia shall not fulfil the decisions the European Court of Human Rights took following 16 March 2022”, the Tass news agency announced on Tuesday 17 May, referring to a draft law proposed by members of the upper and lower houses of the Russian parliament.
Although Russia was effectively excluded from the Council of Europe on 16 March (see EUROPE 12912/4), it remains a high contracting party to the Convention for 6 months following its exit from the organisation. It is therefore bound to respect the Court’s decisions. Complaints about potential human rights violations taking place until 16 September can still be brought to the Court.
Such a situation renders “any unilateral decision of Russian Federation which runs contrary to this obligation null and void in terms of international law”, said Daniel Holtgen, spokesman for the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Still based on the draft law that it has seen, the Tass agency also announces that Russia is already preparing “an additional mechanism to ensure Russian citizens’ basic rights, freedoms and legitimate interests”.
For the time being, the European Court of Human Rights refuses to comment. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)