Russia’s Anti-Torture Convention Withdrawal Takes Effect

Russia’s withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture took effect on November 1, ending the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture’s monitoring mandate inside the country, the Council said. The change followed Russia’s October 30, 2025, notification and the convention’s one-year withdrawal procedure. CPT President Alan Mitchell said the withdrawal also ended independent monitoring of places of detention in Russia. The committee can no longer conduct visits there under the convention, though it will continue its work in the Council of Europe’s 46 member states. The Council of Europe said the CPT carried out 30 visits to more than 450 Russian detention facilities between 1998 and 2021. Russia authorized publication of four visit reports. The Council said the remaining unpublished reports concern 10 visits to Chechnya and other North Caucasus regions between 2000 and 2017, and that Russia may still authorize their publication. The Council said it had received numerous allegations of torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories. It said Russian authorities’ lack of cooperation prevented...