The ECHR announced its decision in the case of Ukraine’s claim against Russia

Ukraine won a case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights regarding human rights violations in Crimea.

The ECHR found the Russian authorities guilty of violating human rights on the peninsula after its annexation in 2014, satisfying Ukraine's claim. IN court decision it is said that Russia violated a number of articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including:

• the right to liberty and security of person;
• the right to freedom of religion;
• freedom of expression;
• freedom of assembly;
• the right to respect for private life;
• right to a fair trial.

In accordance with the decision of the ECHR, Russia must release prisoners who were in prisons in Crimea at the time of annexation, and were subsequently transferred to other colonies – there are more than 12,000 people. The court took into account the repressions that the Russian authorities carried out on the peninsula, namely the persecution of critics of the annexation, violations of the rights and freedoms of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.

The court decision notes that from 2014 to 2018, at least 43 people were illegally detained. They were kept in inhumane conditions, tortured and starved. Eight people are listed as missing. Most of the detainees are opposition journalists, pro-Ukrainian activists, and representatives of ethnic minorities. As evidence, the court was presented with reports from international and public organizations and testimony of witnesses.

Dmitry Lubinets, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, called the court ruling a “historic decision,” writing in his Telegram channel:

“The ECHR announced a decision in the interstate case “Ukraine versus Russia” regarding Crimea! This is a historic decision! The result is positive for our state: the claim is fully satisfied! Unanimously!”.

He noted that this is a decision on the first of three claims that the court is considering against the Russian Federation.

Russia signed the European Convention on Human Rights in 1998, the observance of which is monitored by the Strasbourg Court. However, following President Vladimir Putin's decision to start a war in Ukraine, the Council of Europe suspended Russia's membership in the organization. After this, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Council of Europe.

On March 15, 2022, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe approved a resolution on the expulsion of the country. In June, the State Duma adopted a bill on non-execution of ECHR decisions made after March 15. On September 16, Russia withdrew from the European Convention on Human Rights. From now on, Moscow is not obliged to comply with the decisions of the Strasbourg court, although the government must still be held accountable for violations committed during the signing of the Convention.

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