In brief
Russia officially withdrew from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture on November 1, 2025, after notifying the Council of Europe on October 30. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the country remains bound by the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The withdrawal, effective after a year’s notice, has been defended as a legal process rather than a moral abdication.
Russia withdrew from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture (ECPT) on November 1, 2025, a move that the Foreign Ministry says does not mean the country is abandoning its duty to prevent torture. The decision, announced in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was made after Russia formally notified the Council of Europe on October 30, 2025.
The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, adopted in 1987, has governed standards for preventing inhuman or degrading treatment in Europe. Russia had been a party to the convention since 1998, but under Article 22 of the agreement, withdrawal can take effect only after a one‑year notice period. The council’s press service confirmed that the convention ceases to apply to Russia as of November 1, following the required waiting period.
In a statement on the withdrawal, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denied that the move reflected a disregard for human‑rights obligations. "Russia’s withdrawal from the 1987 Convention does not mean it is refusing to fulfill its international obligations to prevent torture," she said.
"Russia has also assumed these obligations at a ‘higher,’ universal level: relevant provisions are contained in both the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," Maria Zakharova added.
Zakharova’s comments echo an official line that the country still recognizes its responsibilities under other binding international instruments. The 1984 Convention against Torture, an international treaty aimed at preventing torture worldwide, stipulates that signatory states must prohibit torture in all circumstances and prevent its occurrence. Likewise, the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights includes provisions that criminalize the use of torture and obligate states to protect individuals against it.
The withdrawal from the ECPT was described by the Council of Europe’s press office as a formal notification that conforms to the convention’s own rules. The office specifically noted that Russia had been engaged with the convention for nearly three decades before the decision to end its membership. The council said that the withdrawal would not affect the existing obligations that stem from other treaties pursuant to which Russia is a party.
While Russia’s Foreign Ministry frames the withdrawal as a non‑neglect of duty, critics argue that abandoning a regional instrument focused on torture prevention could weaken enforcement mechanisms tailored to European contexts. International observers have pointed out that regional conventions often provide venue-specific oversight, monitoring, and reporting systems that complement universal treaties. The absence of Russia’s participation in the ECPT may limit the scope of external review that typically accompanies obligations under the 1984 Convention and the 1966 Covenant.
Supporters of the Ministry’s position argue that the ECPT’s protections is already covered sufficiently by existing global commitments. They maintain that the stronger language contained in the universal treaties provides a more robust framework, covering all possible scenarios and offering clearer obligations beyond the regional context. They also cite the need for a unified, consistent set of rules that apply to all ratifying states without duplicating obligations across multiple agreements.
The decision has prompted diplomatic exchanges between Russia and the Council of Europe, with the latter emphasizing that withdrawal does not alter the country's responsibilities under international law. Russia has reiterated that its legal obligations remain, emphasizing the continuity of its commitment to preventing torture, albeit through a different treaty framework.
As the one‑year notification period progresses, the global community will likely continue to monitor whether Russia's adherence to the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights remains effective, and whether the withdrawal from the ECPT leads to measurable changes in Russia’s practices regarding the treatment of detainees and prisoners.
