European Court of Human Rights / Cour européenne des droits de l'homme’s Post

Today, the European Court of Human Rights delivered one of the most consequential judgments in its history, in the interstate case of Ukraine and the Netherlands v. the Russian Federation. The Court held Russia accountable for widespread and systematic violations of the European Convention on Human Rights in the context of its actions in Ukraine. This judgment addresses grave allegations, including inter alia: •The downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, •Arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings in eastern Ukraine, •The unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. The Court concluded that these violations were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated and deliberate pattern of conduct attributable to the Russian authorities. This judgment reaffirms the enduring relevance of the Convention system and the Court’s role as a guardian of human rights in Europe.