How to force Russia to comply with ECHR judgment: Maliuska says there are two options

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Minister of Justice Denys Maliuska said that Russia is not going to comply with the ECHR decisions, so, in his opinion, there are two options: to wait for the Russian Federation to want to return to the civilized world, or to create a new mechanism for enforcing court decisions. 

He said this in an exclusive comment to an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague.

 "It would certainly be a mistake to expect Russia at this stage to comply with the ECHR decision. They are not going to comply with the decisions of the ECHR, including in terms of compensation that will be awarded to the victims. Therefore, there are two options. The first option is to wait for a change of government or a change in the approaches of the Russian Federation, when they want to return to the framework of civilized countries. It's a long time, and it's not a fact that it will happen, and that I will see it in my lifetime. Another option is to create a new mechanism for enforcing court decisions, including those of the European Court of Human Rights, without the consent and will of the Russian Federation. In particular, for example, due to the seizure and confiscation of sovereign funds of the Russian Federation. That is, as soon as such funds are confiscated, they can be used to pay compensation, both within the framework of the Register of Damages and within the framework of the implementation of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights," Maliuska said.

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The minister also stressed that "when we talk about the compensation fund, first of all, we are talking about the assets of the Russian Federation itself." 

As Ukrinform reported, the Netherlands discussed the creation of a commission to consider applications for compensation from the Russian Federation

The first preparatory meeting on an international instrument for the creation of a commission to consider applications for Ukraine as part of compensation for damages due to Russia's aggression has been completed in The Hague. 

The development of a global compensation mechanism was initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine in May 2022 together with international partners. 

It is envisaged that the compensation mechanism will include the Register of Damages, and in the future – a commission for consideration of applications and an appropriate fund.