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30 Jan 2026
Memorial Reports Russia’s Failure to Implement ECtHR Judgments to the Council of Europe
On 30 January 2026, lawyers from the Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre submitted a Rule 9.2 filing to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The submission details how the Russian Federation has not only failed to implement ECtHR judgments regarding freedom of expression but has significantly intensified its repressive practices.
In their submission, Memorial’s legal team highlighted three critical areas of concern:
- The War on Dissent: Legislation criminalizing "discrediting the military" and "fake news" continues to be used to silence independent media and opposition figures like Lev Shlosberg.
- The Closure of History: Under the new Order No. 38, the state has effectively blocked access to archives concerning Soviet political terror, citing "national interests" as a pretext for restricting historical truth.
- Digital Iron Curtain: The authorities have ramped up pressure on global tech companies like Google and Apple, while simultaneously implementing regional internet shutdowns and throttling platforms like YouTube and Telegram.
Memorial urges the Committee of Ministers to hold the Russian authorities accountable for these systemic violations and demands the immediate repeal of censorship laws and the restoration of public access to historical archives.
Full text of the Rule 9.2 Submission
