Russia withdrew from the European Convention against Torture. What does this mean for prisoners? On November 1, Russia officially ceased to be a party to the European Convention against Torture. Now the international mechanism that made it possible to inspect Russian pre-trial detention centers, colonies and other places of deprivation of liberty, has finally stopped functioning. As before, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) will be able to visit Russian institutions, check the conditions of detention and speak confidentially with prisoners. Although Russian authorities have largely prevented publication of the commission's reports, its reviews have resulted in concrete changes: for example, authorities have addressed the problems of overcrowded cells and renovated colonies. The CPT also had access to mental health facilities, which is particularly difficult for independent observers to access. What has changed now CPT will no longer be able to perform tests in Russia. In fact, the Russian authorities stopped cooperating with the committee even after the start of the full invasion of Ukraine. But now it is also legally enshrined. CPT President Alan Mitchell called Russia's withdrawal "the end of any independent monitoring of places of detention within the Russian Federation." The lawyer explained to OVD-Info: the conditions of detention of prisoners will not change immediately because of the exit itself, but the possibilities for external control over torture and abuse will decrease even more. What defense mechanisms remain International protection has not completely disappeared. Russia remains a party to the UN Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Victims can still submit individual complaints to UN committees. But such inquiries do not replace independent visits to pre-trial detention centers and colonies. Photo: Council of Europe website It may not be safe to share this post publicly because Russian authorities have declared OVD-Info an extremist organization. But you can still read and love us!

Russia withdrew from the European Convention against Torture. What does this mean for prisoners? On November 1, Russia officially ceased to be a party to the European Convention against Torture. Now the international mechanism that made it possible to inspect Russian pre-trial detention centers, colonies and other places of deprivation of liberty, has finally stopped functioning. As before, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) will be able to visit Russian institutions, check the conditions of detention and speak confidentially with prisoners. Although Russian authorities have largely prevented publication of the commission's reports, its reviews have resulted in concrete changes: for example, authorities have addressed the problems of overcrowded cells and renovated colonies. The CPT also had access to mental health facilities, which is particularly difficult for independent observers to access. What has changed now CPT will no longer be able to perform tests in Russia. In fact, the Russian authorities stopped cooperating with the committee even after the start of the full invasion of Ukraine. But now it is also legally enshrined. CPT President Alan Mitchell called Russia's withdrawal "the end of any independent monitoring of places of detention within the Russian Federation." The lawyer explained to OVD-Info: the conditions of detention of prisoners will not change immediately because of the exit itself, but the possibilities for external control over torture and abuse will decrease even more. What defense mechanisms remain International protection has not completely disappeared. Russia remains a party to the UN Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Victims can still submit individual complaints to UN committees. But such inquiries do not replace independent visits to pre-trial detention centers and colonies. Photo: Council of Europe website It may not be safe to share this post publicly because Russian authorities have declared OVD-Info an extremist organization. But you can still read and love us!