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Russia’s top diplomat says ECHR decisions should not be politicized

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov drew attention to the fact that Russia is part of the Council of Europe’s legal framework

MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. Russia complies with all rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which are taken within the framework of a certain convention without any politicization, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday following talks with Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland.

"The conventions are written by people and implemented by people," the minister said. "Decisions on who violates a convention or on whether or not they are violated in a particular country are made by the ECHR."

Lavrov drew attention to the fact that Russia is part of the Council of Europe’s legal framework, adding that it closely cooperates with the Council and the ECHR. "Russia complies with all court’s rulings, which are taken under the European human rights conventions without any politicization," he noted.

"Unfortunately, we are all human, and mistakes are possible," Russia’s top diplomat said. "We do understand this, but, when the court’s rulings are openly politicized - we discussed such cases during the talks with Jagland today - we want to be protected from blatant politicization."

"I am sure that during his meeting with the Chairman of the Russian Constitutional Court on Wednesday, the Council of Europe’s Secretary General will be able to discuss the legislation, which is adopted in Russia and which obliges the Constitutional Court in cases when there is a suspicion that our Constitutional principles are politicized to address these issues taking into account our obligations under the European Human Rights Conventions," Lavrov stressed.