Russia withdraws from European anti-torture convention, ending independent prison inspections

Russia has formally pulled out of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture, a Council of Europe treaty. The withdrawal means the independent inspection visits to Russian places of detention carried out under the convention will no longer take place. Critics warn that losing this external monitoring removes an important safeguard against abuse in prisons and other detention facilities. The move adds to Russia's broader break with European human rights mechanisms in recent years.