Execution of ECHR judgment in Anchugov and Gladkov v. Russia

Russian Federation

19.04.2016

Human Rights

Global power play spills into Russian court

Russia’s Constitutional Court ruled against acceding to a European Court of Human Rights denouncement against Russian law that prohibits prisoners from exercising their voting rights while imprisoned.

The ECHR had stated in an earlier order that disenfranchisement was a disproportional sanction and there did not exist a discernible link between electoral exclusion and the conduct of the individual concerned. Being indiscriminate and automatic, the practice was contradictory to the International Convention on Human Rights and Basic Freedoms.

Russia’s court was succinct in its ruling, terming it “impossible” to execute the ECHR judgment and effecting amendment in the Russian constitution. Though the severity of the offence could convince a judge to reconsider application of the penalty, the two citizens embroiled in the instant case would not be granted such amnesty due to the graveness of their crimes.

Russian Constitutional Court

Tags : russia constitution disenfranchisement echr prisoner rights

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