The key facts

  • Russia has withdrawn from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture; the decision took effect on November 1, 2026.
  • The Russian Foreign Ministry states that obligations to prevent torture remain in force at the level of universal international treaties.
  • The withdrawal notification was sent to the Council of Europe on October 30, 2025.

Denunciation of the convention and preservation of obligations

Russia has officially withdrawn from the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, with the decision taking effect on November 1, 2026. As Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova explained, this step does not mean abandoning international obligations in the field of torture prevention. According to her, Russia continues to bear responsibility at a more universal level, citing the provisions of the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Timeline and context of the decision

According to the Foreign Ministry, the withdrawal notification was sent to the Council of Europe on October 30, 2025, which makes the current date of the decision taking effect a technical matter. Zakharova emphasized that Russia has not ceased cooperation with the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, despite criticism from Strasbourg, which, in the diplomat's view, uses any pretext to level accusations against Moscow. Earlier, in the autumn of 2025, the law on withdrawal from the agreement was signed by President Vladimir Putin.