The release from prison of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in December 2013, followed a month later by the release of his business partner Platon Lebedev, was welcomed by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the Union at the time. The Government fully shares this position. I would also recall that over the last 10 years, the EU had continuously expressed its concerns about alleged violations in their trials and had raised their cases with Russian interlocutors on a number of occasions, including at the regular EU-Russia Human Rights Consultations. The EU has consistently called on Russia to pursue its reforms towards establishing a transparent, independent and reliable judicial system and to uphold its commitments to human rights, the rule of law and non-discrimination, ensuring the respect for the freedom of assembly, association and expression. I support fully these calls. Alexey Pichugin is currently serving life imprisonment in the Russian Federation for a number of serious crimes. In 2003, Mr. Pichugin made an application to the European Court of Human Rights disputing the basis for his detention, trial and imprisonment. In its judgment of 18 March 2013, the Court found that Mr. Pichugin's rights under the European Convention on Human Rights to liberty and fair trial had been violated.
I understand that Mr Pichugin’s case is currently before the Committee of Ministers, which is responsible for the execution of the Court's judgments, for supervision. Our Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg will follow developments in this case closely. Ireland plays an active role at Committee of Ministers human rights meetings, and has called on Russia to implement in good time particular judgments of the Courts. Together with other like-minded countries, we are also working to improve supervision of execution of judgments, in the context of ongoing reform of the European Court of Human Rights.
