The Council of Europe ‘s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities ceased to be effective in Russia on August 1. The document was signed in February 1996 in Strasbourg. The official statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry was posted on the legal information website.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on the denunciation of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in October 2023. He himself initiated the termination of the document. The decision was explained by the «discriminatory attitude towards Russia» within the framework of the convention.
The Council of Europe’s Convention contains general goals and principles for the protection of national minorities from discrimination. Among them are the promotion of the preservation of culture, religion, language and traditions, the provision of freedom of expression, the participation of minorities in economic, cultural and social life and the prohibition of forced assimilation.
Its preamble states that member states are obliged to implement the provisions of the document on the basis of «national legislation and relevant state policy.» As a framework document, the Convention contains general goals and principles such as: protection from discrimination; promotion of effective equality, preservation of culture, religion, language and traditions; freedom of expression; participation in economic, cultural and social life; freedom with regard to language and education; prohibition of forced assimilation, etc.
