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Yukos case may be subject to Russia's Constitutional Court investigation — judge

Russia’s Constitutional Court ruled the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may take force in Russia only on condition they do not contradict Russia’s Constitution

ST.PETERSBURG, July 14. /TASS/. The Yukos oil company's case may be investigated by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. That's according to Sergey Mavrin, a Constitutional Court judge.

"I will not provide any comments, among the reasons is the possibility the Yukos case may become subject to a Constitutional Court investigation," he told journalists Tuesday. "But if they don’t address the issue to us, we will not study the case," he added.

Earlier, Russia’s Constitutional Court ruled the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) may take force in Russia only on condition they do not contradict Russia’s Constitution. As Sergey Mavrin noted, should a decree issued against Russia be in violation of the Constitution, "it cannot be carried out".

Last year the ECHR ruled that former Yukos shareholders are entitled to 1.866 bln euro in compensation following their complaint against Russia issued in 2011. The ECHR concluded the 2000 inquiry into Yukos’ taxes by Russia’s government violated the European Convention on Human Rights. Russia hence had to present to the European Council a plan on compensation payments to former Yukos shareholders before June 15, however it was not done.

In December 2014 Russia’s Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov said "the decisions of the ECHR may not be enforced, it is up to the good will of the European Council member-states."

On July 10 Deputy Justice Minister Georgy Matyushin said further actions on the part of the Russian government on the implementation of the ECHR’s decision regarding the former Yukos shareholders will be carried out in view of Russia’s Constitution legal stance.

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