ECHR: Russian convicts must be given the right to vote

The European Court of Human Rights recommended that Russia endow the actual election law. The corresponding decision is published on the court website. He was supported by all members of the chamber who considered the case, including a judge from Russia Dmitry Dedov.

Article 32 of the Russian Constitution directly prohibits the prisoners to vote. The 3rd paragraph of the article establishes: "Citizens recognized by the court recognized as incompetent, as well as those contained in places of imprisonment by the court verdict, do not have the right to elect and be elected." This norm, according to the Strasbourg Court, contradicts the European Convention on Human Rights.

The reason for the consideration of the case was complaints of Russian citizens Sergey Anchugov and Vladimir Gladkov. Both in the late 1990s were sentenced to execution, but later the sentences were softened to 15 years in the colony. Gladkov has already been released by parole.

According to Kommersant, the Ministry of Justice has not yet expressed intentions to appeal the decision of the ECHR. Meanwhile, the judge of the Constitutional Court, which was not named by name, expressed confidence that the question of the right of prisoners to vote will now be considered by his instance.

The current verdict of the ECHR is based on a similar decision of 2005, made in relation to the UK. At the same time, the British parliament refused to adjust the legislation taking into account the recommendation from Strasbourg.

In addition to Great Britain and Russia, there are a number of states where prisoners are deprived of the right to vote. This, in particular, is New Zealand and Finland. Meanwhile, in countries such as Germany, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Ukraine, prisoners have active suffrage.