Russian Federation

Council of Europe: Russia Ratifies European Convention on Human Rights

IRIS 1998-6:1/6

Frédéric Pinard

European Audiovisual Observatory

On 5 May 1998, Russia ratified the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and its Protocols no.1, 4, 7, 9, 10 and 11. The Convention affirms a number of rights and fundamental freedoms in favour of the individual, including the freedom of expression (Article 10), and makes provision for a legal mechanism guaranteeing these rights and freedoms. It should also be noted that Russia has, with immediate effect, recognised the right of individual petition and the compulsory jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (Articles 25 and 36 of the Convention), thereby giving Russian nationals the possibility of access to the Court's mechanism for protecting human rights.

With this last ratification, the Convention, which came into force in 1953, is now binding on all Member States of the Council of Europe.