Vyacheslav Lebedev, head of Russia’s highest judicial body, spoke about the country’s stance towards the European Court of Human Rights in New Delhi, where leaders of the supreme courts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation gathered for a major meeting. He emphasized that Moscow’s withdrawal from the ECHR’s jurisdiction does not undermine the functioning of Russian courts or their commitment to upholding the rule of law. In his comments to a broad group of reporters gathered on the sidelines of the summit, Lebedev made it clear that Russia continues to manage its legal affairs through its own institutions with a focus on firmness, transparency, and accountability.
Lebedev underscored that Russia remains faithful to widely accepted principles and norms of international law, even as it redefines its engagements with European judicial structures. He argued that the Russian judiciary operates independently and is designed to protect the rights of citizens while upholding the duties of the state. The official pointed out that the core mission of the Supreme Court is to ensure professional standards across the judiciary, maintain impartiality, and safeguard the public interest. The message conveyed was one of confidence in domestic legal processes and a commitment to fairness that benefits ordinary people in everyday life.
The discussion occurred against a backdrop of constitutional and diplomatic changes that reshaped Europe’s legal landscape in recent years. In 2015, the Russian government enacted measures that empowered the Constitutional Court to disregard, in full or in part, decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights when deemed incompatible with Russia’s constitutional framework. This step reflected a broader reorientation of Russia’s approach to external judgments and international legal obligations, a shift that has continued to influence how Russian courts interact with European mechanisms.
Further changes followed in 2022, when Russia formally left the Council of Europe and thereby ceased to be within the ECHR’s jurisdiction. Subsequently, new legislation clarified that decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights after March 15, 2022, would not be implemented within Russia. These moves signaled a recalibration of how the country aligns with regional human rights norms while reinforcing the prerogatives of its domestic judiciary to set its own course on constitutional interpretation and enforcement.
Throughout these developments, Russian officials have repeatedly expressed confidence in the country’s legal system and its ability to resolve disputes in a manner that respects human dignity and the rule of law. The leadership has articulated a vision in which sovereignty and judicial independence go hand in hand with an ongoing commitment to fair treatment for individuals and the protection of fundamental freedoms. In this view, the Supreme Court’s role is not only to interpret statutes but also to supervise the integrity and professionalism of legal practitioners, ensuring that every decision is grounded in law, evidence, and the best interests of citizens. In such a framework, the courts remain an instrument for safeguarding justice and upholding the integrity of the Russian legal order, even as the nation navigates a changing international environment.