Constitutional Court allows for Russia's possible deviation from enforcing ECHR judgments

Russia may not enforce judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the event that fundamental constitutional norms of Russia are violated, the Russian Constitutional Court said in its verdict on July 14.

"By way of exception Russia may deviate from the fulfillment of obligations handed to it if this deviation is the only possible way to avoid violation of fundamental constitutional principles," said the verdict proclaimed by the Russian Constitutional Court in St. Petersburg.

Regarding interpretation of the principle of international law's superiority to national law and conflict of constitutional law that may appear in this interpretation, the Russian Constitutional Court referred to the Vienna Convention, to which Russia is a party.

"The Vienna Convention lays down general rules for interpretation of the treaty which envision, amongst others, that the treaty shall be interpreted at free will and in good faith," the Constitutional Court said.

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