The Court has communicated to the Government of the Russian federation of the applications Menyaylo and Others v. Russia and Lepekha and Others v. Russia.

The case concerns 111 Ukrainian civilians who were captured and held in a school basement by Russian soldiers during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. The applicants in the case allege that the school was in effect a military base, that they were used as human shields, and that they were kept in cramped and inhuman and degrading conditions for almost a month, resulting in the deaths of eleven people. Among those trapped were women and children, as well as sick, elderly and disabled people. 

Russia is no longer a party to the European Convention, but it remains responsible for alleged violations of the European Convention during the period when it was still a signatory, that is up until 16 September 2022. 

• Press release