The Reception Process in Russia and Ukraine

Abstract

This chapter discusses the reception of the ECHR in Russian and Ukraine. Topics covered include the accession and ratification of the ECHR in both countries, the status of ECHR in national law, an overview of the activity of the Court, and the Court's case law and its effect on the national legal order. Despite the similar starting point for the reception of the ECHR in Russia and Ukraine, the later developments are marked by numerous divergences. The development in Russia, after a period of instability in the 1990s, led to the reestablishment of a more authoritarian rule under President Putin. Internally, Russia is struggling with the consequences of the war in Chechnya, but externally it takes a leading role in world politics and, with newly acquired self-confidence, starts to close the doors for criticism from abroad. In contrast, the transitory period in Ukraine continues.