Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Judd (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 19 July 2006.

Russia: ECHR Judgments

Question: My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Does he agree that the intransigence of the Russian authorities and the refusal to take effective remedial action call into fundamental question the grave undertakings that Russia gave at the time of its admission to the Council of Europe about how it intended to become a full council member not only in letter but in spirit? Does he not also agree that that intransigence plays directly into the hands of extremists, because it undermines all those who might be won into a meaningful political process to overcome the continuing crisis in Chechnya by suggesting that everything else is ineffective and that the only thing to do if you really feel strongly is to go and join the militants?

Answer: My Lords, I acknowledge my noble friend’s long-standing interest in Chechnya and his contribution over three and a half years as special rapporteur on Chechnya to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I agree that there has been far too little progress—indeed, a distinct lack of progress—on the part of Russia in implementing the European Court of Human Rights judgments. That is worrying and is likely to be taken by some as an encouragement to acts of violence. I would hope that, on all such occasions when people feel encouraged by violence rather than by appropriate use of political process, they will reflect on that and turn to political process rather than tothe gun.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 684 c1277-8
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Human rights Judgements European Court of Human Rights Russia Chechnya
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk