On September 29, 2025, Russia officially denounced the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). This action signifies a withdrawal from international human rights oversight concerning the treatment of individuals in places of detention.
The denunciation followed approvals by the State Duma on September 17 and the Federation Council on September 24. Russia had been a signatory to the convention since 1996, with it entering into force in 1998. The CPT, established under the convention, held the authority to conduct unannounced visits to detention facilities to monitor conditions and prevent torture. This move comes after Russia's exit from the Council of Europe in March 2022. An explanatory note accompanying the bill indicated that Russia has not had a representative in the CPT since 2023, as the Council of Europe blocked the process of electing a new member from Russia, effectively limiting Russia's participation in the CPT's monitoring mechanisms.
Despite this withdrawal from an international treaty, Russian domestic law continues to explicitly prohibit torture and ill-treatment. Article 21 of the Russian Constitution guarantees personal dignity and forbids torture, cruel, and other forms of ill-treatment. Furthermore, in 2022, amendments were made to Article 286 of the Russian Criminal Code, which clarified the definition of torture and established accountability for its application. Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia, stated that the denunciation does not equate to the legalization of torture, as Russian legislation remains in place to prohibit such acts.
However, some human rights advocates express concern. Sergey Babinets, head of the "Committee Against Torture," views the denunciation as part of a broader trend of Russia disengaging from international agreements, potentially leading to reduced external oversight of human rights. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) itself is a non-judicial mechanism designed to prevent torture by examining the treatment of persons deprived of liberty, complementing the judicial oversight provided by the European Court of Human Rights. The withdrawal from the CPT convention signifies a shift in Russia's engagement with international human rights frameworks. While domestic protections remain, the absence of CPT's independent monitoring raises questions about the future of human rights oversight within the country. The effectiveness of Russia's internal legal mechanisms in preventing and punishing torture will be a critical factor in ensuring the protection of individuals in detention moving forward.