ECHR rules in favour of 15 Russian women subjected to domestic violence
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rules in favour of 15 Russian women who have been victims of domestic violence
05.10.2022
The women complained to the European Court stating that the Russian authorities had failed to provide them with adequate protection from domestic violence and asking for acts of abuse to which they had been subjected to be investigated.
The ECHR found that Russia was in breach of Article 3 of the Human Rights Convention on the Prohibition of Torture and ruled that each woman be paid 20,000 Euros in compensation for the psychological damage caused and for legal costs to be recovered from the State responsible.
The European Court stated that “Russia has failed to comply with its obligations to establish a legislative and regulatory protection framework, to respond promptly to reports of domestic violence, to take measures to prevent the risk of ill-treatment and to properly investigate all cases of such abuse”.
Maria Nemova, one of the complainants’ lawyers working for the Centre for the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence at the Women’s CSO Consortium, said that Russia still had legal obligations towards the victims despite having withdrawn from the ECHR on 16 September.
“We will certainly apply to the Prosecutor General’s Office for compensation payments awarded under the Court’s ruling. If such payments are refused, we will lodge an appeal with the Court given Russia was still a party to the ECHR when our original complaint was submitted. Russia cannot unilaterally renege on its obligations”, said Nemova.
