Teetering on the Edge of Legal Nihilism: Russia and the Evolving European Human Rights Regime

In: Human rights quarterly, Band 37, Heft 2, S. 289-240

Abstract

From Pussy Riot to Michael Khodorkovskiy, the solidity of the rule of law in Russia seems rather shaky. This has translated into a troubled relationship between Russia and the European Court of Human Rights since Russia's ratification of the European Convention in 1998. Various factors explain this tension, including the structure of the judiciary, the status of the European Convention in Russia law, public mistrust of the courts, and ongoing episodes of armed conflicts. This has posed enormous challenges to the European Court of Human Rights, and even the most recent attempts to improve it are unlikely to trigger better compliance in Russia.