Abstract
The Russian invasion of Ukraine that occurred on 24 February 2022, has caused serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL), and thereby, has had significant impacts on various fields of international law. In particular, unprecedented challenges are posed to the multi-layered systems of human rights protection that have been developed over many years in the European region, where both Russia and Ukraine are located. This contribution will examine the impacts of the Ukraine Conflict on European human rights law and reactions thereof to Russia’s aggression in four points: (1) institutional sanctions imposed by the Council of Europe (CoE), which expelled Russia as an aggressor state; (2) judicial responses to human rights violations caused by the invasion by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR); (3) fact-finding investigations into the military invasion and relevant issues by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE); and (4) the actions taken by the CoE and the European Union (EU) institutions for ensuring individual and State responsibilities for the aggression.
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Notes
- 1.
UNGA (2022) para 1.
- 2.
PACE Opinion 193 (1996).
- 3.
RCC (2009).
- 4.
Burdov v Russia (no 2), para 137.
- 5.
2010 Federal Law.
- 6.
RCC (2015).
- 7.
RCC (2016).
- 8.
RCC (2017).
- 9.
RCC (2020).
- 10.
Ilaşcu and Others v Moldova and Russia.
- 11.
Georgia v Russia (I).
- 12.
Georgia v Russia (II). See also, Mamasakhlisi and Others v. Georgia and Russia.
- 13.
Ukraine v Russia (re Crimea).
- 14.
Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia.
- 15.
CoM, Decision of 24 February 2022.
- 16.
CoM, Decision of 25 February 2022.
- 17.
CoM, Decision of 10 March 2022.
- 18.
PACE, Opinion 300 (2022) of 15 March 2022, paras 19–20.
- 19.
CoM, Resolution of 16 March 2022.
- 20.
Buscemi 768.
- 21.
Dzehtsiarou and Coffey.
- 22.
Jahn.
- 23.
Obata 9.
- 24.
Ní Aoláin.
- 25.
Steininger.
- 26.
ECHR 068 (2022).
- 27.
ECHR 073 (2022).
- 28.
ECHR 116 (2022).
- 29.
ECHR 204 (2022).
- 30.
ECHR 222 (2022). Pinner v Russia and Ukraine; Aslin v Russia and Ukraine.
- 31.
ECHR 227 (2022). Oliynichenko v Russia and Ukraine.
- 32.
Cyprus v Turkey, paras 43–46.
- 33.
Batura and Risini.
- 34.
Georgia v Russia (II), para 142.
- 35.
Tigroudja.
- 36.
These issues are currently under scrutiny in the work of the Drafting Group onEffective processing and resolution of cases relating to inter-State disputes (DH-SYSC-IV), operating under the authority of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH).
- 37.
Analysis of statistics 2022, 7.
- 38.
ECtHR Resolution, para 2.
- 39.
Fedotova and Others v. Russia, paras 68–73.
- 40.
Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia, para 389.
- 41.
Kutayev v Russia, paras 75–80; Svetova and Others v Rusia, paras 23–28.
- 42.
Kutaev, paras 8–9; Svetova and Others, paras 11–12.
- 43.
Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia, para 393.
- 44.
Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia para 459.
- 45.
Dzehtsiarou.
- 46.
Risini and Forde.
- 47.
President of Russia, 11 June 2022.
- 48.
President of Russia, 11 June 2022.
- 49.
Emtseva.
- 50.
A/HRC/RES/49/1.
- 51.
OSCE, Permanent Council, Decision No. 1117.
- 52.
SMM Daily Report 54/2022.
- 53.
Press Release, OSCE, 31 March 2022.
- 54.
See in general, see Szpak and Kolodziejska.
- 55.
Moscow Mechanism Report in April 2022, 1–3.
- 56.
Moscow Mechanism Report in July 2022, 4.
- 57.
ODIHR Interim Report.
- 58.
ODIHR Second Report.
- 59.
Moscow Mechanism Report in April 2022, 94.
- 60.
Moscow Mechanism Report in July 2022, 115.
- 61.
Press Release, ECHR 084 (2022) of no 11884/22.
- 62.
Venice Commission, CDL-AD(2021)027, 6 July 2021.
- 63.
The last reform was undertaken in July 2022 and entered into force on 1 December 2022.
- 64.
Ecodefence and Others v. Russia, paras 89–118, 123–186.
- 65.
Moscow Mechanism Report in September 2022, 2.
- 66.
Moscow Mechanism Report in November 2020.
- 67.
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Resolution, paras 35–36 referring to ‘a special international criminal tribunal’ to prosecute and punish those responsible for crimes including aggression.
- 68.
The first declaration accepted ICC jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed on Ukrainian territory from 21 November 2013 to 22 February 2014; The second declaration extended to encompass ongoing alleged crimes committed throughout the territory from 20 February 2014 onwards.
- 69.
Calling for a Special Tribunal for Crime of Aggression.
- 70.
Heller.
- 71.
Wilde.
- 72.
PACE, Recommendation 2231 (2022).
- 73.
PACE, Resolution 2436 (2022).
- 74.
CoM, CM/Del/Dec(2022)1442/2.3, para 3.
- 75.
PACE, Recommendation 2245 (2023), para 8.3.1.
- 76.
PACE, Resolution 2482 (2023), para 7.
- 77.
CoM, CM/Del/Dec(2023)1457bis/2.3, para 6.
- 78.
European Parliament, Resolution 2022/2655(RSP).
- 79.
Press Release: European Commission, 30 November 2022.
- 80.
European Parliament, Resolution 2022/3017(RSP), para 3.
- 81.
Statement by President von der Leyen.
- 82.
CoESG, Information Documents.
- 83.
In-Depth Analysis: Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, 12–13, 18–19.
- 84.
PACE, Doc. 12462.
- 85.
EULEX statement.
- 86.
A/RES/ES-11/5, paras 3–4.
- 87.
PACE, Resolution 2436 (2022), para 11.9.
- 88.
PACE, Resolution 2448 (2022), para 10.
- 89.
CoM CM/Del/Dec(2022)1442/2.3, para 3.
- 90.
PACE, Resolution 2463 (2022), para 13.6.3.
- 91.
CoM, 1452nd meeting, CM(2022)187-final.
- 92.
PACE Resolution 2482 (2023), para. 19.3.
- 93.
CoM CM/Del/Dec(2023)1457bis/2.3, para 7.
- 94.
European Parliament (n) para 14.
- 95.
European Council, CO EUR 3 CONCL 2, para 8.
- 96.
Maksym Vishchyk, “Insight from Ukraine: Revitalizing Belief in International Law”, Just Security, 18 March 2022.
References
UN Documents
HRC (2022) A/HRC/RES/49/1 of 4 March 2022.
UNGA (2022) A/RES/ES-11/3 of 7 April 2022.
UNGA (2022) A/RES/ES-11/5 of 14 November 2022.
National Legislation and Judgments
Amendments to laws in connection with making the ECHR rulings enacted after March 15, 2022, non-enforceable in Russia, President of Russia, 11 June 2022. http://www.en.kremlin.ru/acts/news/68648.
Law cancelling implementation in Russia of European Court of Human Rights rulings issued after March 15, 2022, President of Russia, 11 June. 2022 http://en.kremlin.ru/catalog/keywords/33/events/68645.
RCC (2009) Decision no 1344-O-P.
RCC (2015) Decision no 21-П/2015.
RCC (2016) Decision no 12-П/2016.
RCC (2017) Decision no 1-П/2017.
RCC (2020) Decision no 1-Z/2020.
Russian Federal Law (2010) No. 68-FZ ‘On Compensation for Violation of the Right to Trial within a Reasonable Time or the Right to execution of a judicial act within a reasonable time’ http://www.supcourt.ru/en/documents/compensation/.
International Cases
Aslin v Russia and Ukraine (App no 31233/22).
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Cyprus v Turkey, ECtHR (GC), App no 25781/94, Judgment on Just Satisfaction of 12 May 2014.
Ecodefence and Others v. Russia, ECtHR, App nos 9988/13 and Others, Judgment on Merits and Just Satisfaction of 14 June 2022.
Fedotova and Others v. Russia, ECtHR (GC), Application Nos. 40792/10, 30538/14 and 43439/14, Judgment of 17 January 2023.
Georgia v Russia (I), ECtHR (GC), App no 13255/07, Judgment on Merits of 3 July 2014; on Just Satisfaction of 31 January 2019.
Georgia v Russia (II), ECtHR (GC), App no 38263/08, Judgment on Merits of 21 January 2021.
Ilaşcu and Others v Moldova and Russia, ECtHR (GC), App no 48787/99, Judgment of Merits and Just Satisfaction of 8 July 2004.
Kutayev v Russia, ECtHR, App no 17912/15, Judgment on Merits and Just Satisfaction of 24 January 2023.
Mamasakhlisi and Others v. Georgia and Russia, ECtHR, App nos. 29999/04 41424/04, Judgment of Merits and Just Satisfaction of 7 March 2023.
Oliynichenko v Russia and Ukraine (App no 31258/22).
Pinner v Russia and Ukraine (App no 31217/22).
Svetova and Others v Rusia, ECtHR, App no 54714/17, Judgment on Merits and Just Satisfaction of 24 January 2023.
Ukraine v Russia (re Crimea), ECtHR (GC), App no 20958/14 38334/18, Decision of 16 December 2020.
Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia, ECtHR (GC), App nos 8019/16, 43800/14 and 28525/20, Decision of 30 November 2022.
Council of Europe
Analysis of statistics 2022, ECtHR, January 2023.
CoESG, Information Documents SG/Inf(2023)7 of 31 January 2023.
CoM, Decision CM/Del/Dec(2022)1426bis/2.3 of 24 February 2022.
CoM, Decision CM/Del/Dec(2022)1426ter/2.3 of 25 February 2022.
CoM, Decision CM/Del/Dec(2022)1428bis/2.3 of 10 March 2022.
CoM, Resolution CM/Res(2022)2 of 16 March 2022.
CoM, Decision CM/Del/Dec(2022)1442/2.3 of 15 September 2022.
CoM, 1452nd meeting, CM(2022)187-final, 14 December 2022.
CoM, Decision CM/Del/Dec(2023)1457bis/2.3 of 24 February 2023.
ECtHR, Resolution on the consequences of the cessation of membership of the Russian Federation to the Council of Europe in light of Article 58 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
PACE, Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Doc. 12462 of 7 January 2011.
PACE Opinion 193 (1996) of 25 January 1996.
PACE, Opinion 300 (2022) of 15 March 2022.
PACE, Recommendation 2231 (2022) of 28 April 2022.
PACE, Recommendation 2245 (2023) of 24 January 2023.
PACE, Resolution 2436 (2022) of 28 April 2022.
PACE, Resolution 2448 (2022) of 22 June 2022.
PACE, Resolution 2463 (2022) of 13 October 2022.
PACE, Resolution 2482 (2023) of 26 January 2023.
Press Release, ECHR 068 (2022) of 1 March 2022.
Press Release, ECHR 073 (2022) of 4 March 2022.
Press Release, ECHR 084 (2022) of 10 March 2022.
Press Release, ECHR 116 (2022) of 1 April 2022.
Press Release, ECHR 204 (2022) of 16 June 2022.
Press Release, ECHR 222 (2022) of 30 June 2022.
Press Release, ECHR 227 (2022) of 1 July 2022.
Venice Commission, CDL-AD(2021)027, 6 July 2021.
Journal Article
Buscemi, M. 2022. Outcasting the Aggressor: The Deployment of the Sanction of ‘Non-participation.’ American Journal of International Law 116: 764–774.
Dzehtsiarou, K., and D.K. Coffey. 2019. Suspension and Expulsion of Members of the Council of Europe: Difficult Decisions in Troubled Times. International and Comparative Law Quarterly 68: 443–476.
Obata, K. 2022. Aggression by Russia against Ukraine and the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights” (Roshia niyoru Ukuraina Shinryaku to Yōroppa Hyōgikai・Yōroppa Jinken Jyōyaku). Jinken Hanrei Ho (Human Rights Jurisprudence Journal) 4: 5–9.
Steininger, S. 2021. With or Without You: Suspension, Expulsion, and the Limits of Membership Sanctions in Regional Human Rights Regimes. Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht 81: 533–566.
Szpak, A. and J. Kolodziejska. 2023. The Use of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism and International Humanitarian Law in the Russian Aggression Against Ukraine. Journal of Contemporary European Studies. Published online: 19 February 2023.
Scholarly Blog Article
Batura, J., and I. Risini. 2022. Of Parties, Third Parties, and Treaty Interpretation: Ukraine v. Russia (X) before the European Court of Human Rights. EJIL Talk! 26 September 2022. https://www.ejiltalk.org/of-parties-third-parties-and-treaty-interpretation-ukraine-v-russia-x-before-the-european-court-of-human-rights/.
Dzehtsiarou, K. 2022. The Range of Solutions to the Russian Cases Pending before the European Court of Human Rights: Between “Business as Usual” and “Denial of Justice”. ECHR Blog. 16 August 2022. https://www.echrblog.com/2022/08/the-range-of-solutions-to-russian-cases.html.
Emtseva, J. 2023. The Withdrawal Mystery Solved: How the European Court of Human Rights Decided to Move Forward with the Cases against Russia. EJIL Talk! 8 February 2023. https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-withdrawal-mystery-solved-how-the-european-court-of-human-rights-decided-to-move-forward-with-the-cases-against-russia/.
Heller, K.J. 2022. Creating a Special Tribunal for Aggression Against Ukraine Is a Bad Idea. Opinio Juris. 7 March 2022. https://opiniojuris.org/2022/03/07/creating-a-special-tribunal-for-aggression-against-ukraine-is-a-bad-idea/.
Jahn, J. 2022. The Council of Europe Excludes Russia: A Setback for Human Rights’, EJIL Talk!. 23 March 2022. https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-council-of-europe-excludes-russia-a-setback-for-human-rights/.
Ní Aoláin, F. 2022. Why Pushing Russia Out of Multilateral Institutions is Not a Solution to the War. Just Security. 22 March 2022. https://www.justsecurity.org/80787/why-pushing-russia-out-of-multilateral-institutions-is-not-a-solution-to-the-war/.
Risini, I., and A. Forde. 2022. Parting Paths: Russia’s Inevitable Exit from the Council of Europe. Völkerrechtsblog. 12 March 2022. https://voelkerrechtsblog.org/parting-paths-russias-inevitable-exit-from-the-council-of-europe/.
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OSCE
Interim Report on Reported Violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in Ukraine, ODIHR, 20 July 2022 (ODIHR Interim Report).
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OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 54/2022 Issued on 7 March 2022.
Press Release: Chairman-in-Office and Secretary General expressed regret that no consensus reached on extension of mandate of Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, 31 March 2022. https://www.osce.org/chairmanship/514958.
Report on Violations of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Committed In Ukraine Since 24 February 2022’, OSCE, ODIHR.GAL/26/22/Rev.1, 13 April 2022 (Moscow Mechanism Report in April 2022).
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European Union
European Council, Conclusions of 23 March 2023, CO EUR 3 CONCL 2.
European Parliament, Resolution 2022/2655(RSP) of 19 May 2022.
European Parliament, Resolution 2022/3017(RSP) of 19 January 2023.
In-Depth Analysis: Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine—A Legal Assessment, prepared by Olivier Corten and Vaios Koutroulis, EP/EXPO/DROI./FWC/2019_01/Lot6/1/C/21 EN December 2022.
Press Release: EULEX statement on Council of Europe report into human organ trafficking, Press Release, 28 January 2011. https://www.eulex-kosovo.eu/?page=2,10,1894.
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Statement by President von der Leyen on the establishment of the International Centre for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine, 4 March 2023. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/ukraine/statement-president-von-der-leyen-establishment-international-centre_en?s=232.
Miscellaneous
Calling for a Special Tribunal for Crime of Aggression and Other Updates on Ukraine, 4 March 2022.
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Negishi, Y. (2023). Impacts of the Ukraine Conflict on European Human Rights Law: Challenges and Resilience of Multi-layered Regional Mechanisms. In: Furuya, S., Takemura, H., Ozaki, K. (eds) Global Impact of the Ukraine Conflict. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4374-6_9
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