Russian Duma puts Russian law above rulings of intl human rights courts

MPs have expanded the law on the right of the Constitutional Court to annul rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to all international bodies for the protection of human rights. Now, Russia will be able to ignore the rulings of the UN Human Rights Committee.

The Constitutional Committee of the State Duma recommended the adoption in the second reading of a bill on the priority of the Constitutional Court’s rulings over those of the ECHR, says RBC news agency.

Under the bill, submitted in November by a group of deputies from all Duma factions headed by Vladimir Pligin, the CC may, at the request of the President and Government, rule on non-compliance with the verdicts of international judicial bodies for protection of human rights.

MPs are considering a bill in top gear, as it was only submitted on November 18 and adopted in first reading as early as on December 1. Less than a day was given for drafting the amendments. While considering amendments at the committee meeting on Wednesday, opposition MP Dmitry Gudkov asked, what was the rush with the bill.  Committee chairman Vladimir Pligin said that the document was "sufficiently mature."

The CC may also be granted the right to examine provisions of international conventions for compliance with Russian law, partner of Intellectual Capital law firm Roman Sklyar suggests.