World · Europe · 11 hrs ago
Russia Leaves Europe’s Anti-Torture Convention
Russia’s withdrawal from the anti-torture convention took effect on Nov.
1, ending its membership in a Council of Europe treaty.
The change means the treaty’s inspectors can no longer independently monitor detention facilities in Russia.
During Russia’s 23 years in the convention, inspectors made 30 visits to more than 450 facilities, but Russia allowed only four visit reports to be published.
The remaining reports cover visits to Chechnya and other North Caucasus regions from 2000 to 2017, and Russia may still authorize their publication.
Russia ratified the convention in 1998 and was expelled from the Council of Europe in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Rights groups say leaving the treaty removes the last remaining international safeguard for people in Russia’s penal system, while crediting it with helping improve conditions for some inmates.
Russia remains bound by the UN Convention Against Torture, which it ratified in 1985.
Russia’s withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture took effect on Nov. 1, ending the treaty’s monitoring mandate in the country.
The Council of Europe said the withdrawal also ends independent monitoring of detention facilities inside Russia.
During Russia’s 23 years in the convention, inspectors made 30 visits to more than 450 detention facilities, but Russia allowed only four visit reports to be published.
The Council of Europe said it received numerous accounts of alleged torture and ill-treatment in detention centers and penal colonies in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Russia remains a party to the UN Convention Against Torture.
- Who
- Russia withdrew from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture.
- What
- Its withdrawal ended the convention’s monitoring mandate in Russia.
- When
- The withdrawal took effect on Nov. 1, 2026.
- Where
- Russia.
- Why
- Russia notified the Council of Europe of its decision to denounce the convention on Oct. 30, 2025; the sources do not state its reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Russia ratified the anti-torture treaty.
Unpublished reports covered 10 visits to Chechnya and other North Caucasus regions.
Russian authorities notified the Council of Europe of their decision to denounce the convention.
Russia’s withdrawal took effect.
- Inspection visits
- 30 visits to more than 450 detention facilities during Russia’s 23 years in the convention
- Published reports
- Russia permitted four visit reports to be published
- Withdrawal effective
- Nov. 1, 2026
- Notification
- Oct. 30, 2025
- Remaining treaty
- Russia remains a party to the UN Convention Against Torture
3 sources
What people are saying
The withdrawal of the Russian Federation marks the end of the CPT's monitoring mandate in the country
It also marks the end of any independent monitoring of places of deprivation of liberty inside the Russian Federation
Russia may authorize the publication of [the remaining] reports at any time