The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg is a bright spot on the horizon for many Russians who feel that seeking justice in their homeland, notorious for its ‘legal nihilism’, is a fool’s errand.  We’ve heard a lot recently about how the Kremlin’s idea of ‘legal norms’ seems to run counter to those espoused by a functioning impartial judiciary.  Cases from the Federation represent the most substantial portion of the international court’s entire caseload.

Some people will have been worried to note therefore that the ECHR has now decided, in an attempt to unblock its clogged caseload, that it will refuse to hear cases that have been improperly drafted.  RFE/RL reassures them that there is no need to panic: