§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to refer breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights by the Russian Federation in Chechnya to the European Court of Human Rights under Article 33 of the Convention; and if he will make a statement. [125990]
§ Mr. VazWe have considered with our EU partners the possibility of bringing an interstate action against Russia under Article 33 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We and other EU states have pursued other means of ensuring accountability for alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya, notably at the 56th Session of the Commission of Human Rights. An EU-drafted Resolution was passed, registering major concerns, including the need for an independent Commission of Inquiry meeting international standards. With EU partners, we have agreed that this type of international pressure, rather than an interstate complaint, was the clearest way of indicating our concern over the situation in Chechnya.
§ Mr. Terry DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the Government's policy to support the proposed suspension of the Russian Federation from the Council of Europe in accordance with Recommendation 1456 (2000) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. [125991]
§ Mr. VazWe share the concerns expressed in Recommendation 1456 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE) and have taken every opportunity, bilaterally and in company with our EU partners, to impress on Russia the need to comply with its human rights obligations. However, we share the EU position that it is preferable to continue to bring pressure to bear through engagement within the CoE rather than to isolate Russia by suspension.