In brief
On November 1, Russia withdrew from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, a fact confirmed by the Moscow diplomatic service. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova insisted the country remains bound by the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The withdrawal was notified to the Council of Europe on October 30 and, under Article 22, will take effect after a one‑year notice period. The ministry stated that the exit does not signify a rejection of its duty to prevent torture.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on November 3 that its withdrawal from the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ECPT) will not mean it is abandoning its international obligations to prevent torture. The Ministry’s spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said the country remains bound by other agreements, specifically the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In a statement, Zakharova explained that, although the ECPT will no longer apply to Russia from November 1, the nation has “taken on these obligations at a higher, universal level.” She emphasized that relevant provisions are “contained in both the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”
The withdrawal itself was confirmed by the Council of Europe’s press service, which noted that Russia had notified the Council of its decision on October 30, 2025. Under Article 22 of the convention, a withdrawal may only take effect after a year’s notice, meaning that the ECPT will resume applying to Russia on November 1, 2026.
Russia had been a party to the convention since 1998, and the Foreign Ministry’s remarks reiterate that the move does not entail any abandonment of its duty to prevent torture under other international frameworks.
