HRW on Russia’s Signing of Protocol 14

Human Rights Watch has published a press release praising the decision by Russia to ratify a reform to the European Court of Human Rights, Protocol 14.  Others say not to take it at face value.

From HRW:

“This is a long-awaited and positive move,” said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director for Human Rights Watch. “Now more people in Russia and all of Europe will have better access to justice through the European Court.” (…)

Human Rights Watch said that this aspect of the reform could prompt Russia to  implement fully European Court judgments on abuses in Chechnya. More than 115 such rulings have held Russia responsible for enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and torture, and for failing to investigate these crimes properly.

Human Rights Watch found that while Russia  has paid  the monetary compensation awarded by the court, in many of the cases it has failed to ensure effective investigations into the abuses and to hold perpetrators accountable.