Russia formally leaves Council of Europe's anti-torture convention

Moscow officially withdrew from the Council of Europe's CPT on November 1, following a notification on October 30, 2025. This withdrawal ends the CPT's monitoring in Russia and independent oversight of detention facilities. Despite being a signatory until October, Russia continued to commit war crimes in Ukraine, including torture of civilians and soldiers. Reports indicate that 96% of freed Ukrainian POWs experienced torture in Russian captivity. The CPT has faced challenges in investigating these allegations due to Russian non-cooperation. Ukraine remains a signatory of the CPT, along with 45 other Council of Europe member states.