MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. Russia’s withdrawal from the 1987 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ECPT) does not mean it is abandoning its international obligations, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, commenting on the convention’s ceasing to apply to Russia on November 1.

"Russia’s withdrawal from the 1987 Convention does not mean it is refusing to fulfill its international obligations to prevent torture. Russia has also assumed these obligations at a ‘higher,’ universal level: relevant provisions are contained in both the 1984 Convention against Torture and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," she said.

Russia has officially withdrawn from the ECPT, the Council of Europe’s press service said earlier. The country notified the Council of the decision on October 30, 2025. Under Article 22 of the convention, the withdrawal may take effect only after a year’s notice, the press service explained.

Russia had been a party to the convention since 1998.