MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. A situation regarding the protection of human rights in Russia will not deteriorate following the country’s withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Russian Foreign Ministry Envoy for Human Rights, Democracy and Supremacy of Law, Deputy Director of the Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights Grigory Lukyantsev told TASS on Friday.
He noted that Moscow is aware about circulated "ghost stories" regarding the situation of the human rights following Russia’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe.
"It should be remembered that it was nothing but a beneficial business for many of those, who are unfolding them now [the ‘ghost stories’], or, in other words, continue stamping them in the forms of claims within the ECHR," Lukyantsev said.
"If we speak about human rights situation in Russia I must say that our withdrawal from the ECHR jurisdiction would not lead to any possible negative consequence," the Russian diplomat added.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated in mid-March that the European Union was concerned that in the future Russian citizens won’t be able to apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) given the termination of Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe.
Borrell said at that time that: "Russian citizens will no longer benefit from the protections granted by the European Convention on Human Rights nor be able to take cases of violation of their human rights to the European Court of Human Rights."
On March 16, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to terminate the Russian Federation’s membership in the organization. On the same day, the European Court of Human Rights decided to suspend the consideration of all complaints against Russia.
Last Tuesday, the Russian government notified the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric of its withdrawal from the organization and its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.