Reform of the European Court of Human Rights is being discussed at a meeting of Council of Europe officials in Paris. Russia is at the centre of the debate, as it’s the only country which has failed to ratify a document which the Council sees as making th
Protocol 14 of the European Human Rights Convention is intended to speed up litigation procedures to help cope with the growing number of complaints. Among other things, the protocol allows just one judge to preside over hearings, and gives judges longer terms in office. However, Russia’s Lower House of Parliament, the State Duma, says this would make court rulings more subjective and biased. According to the Council of Europe, more than a quarter of the Court's cases last year were brought against Russia.