The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled in the case of M.V. and M.T. v. France that to send a couple back to their country of origin, the Russian Federation, would violate the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In light of their family connections, notably an uncle who had participated in the Chechen rebellion, previous attacks and threats on their persons, and the general situation both previously and in present day Chechnya, the Court held that their return would run a real risk of inhumane treatment by the Russian authorities contrary to Article 3 of the ECHR. The Court, however, declined to accept the applicant’s submission that removal to Russia would amount to violation of Article 13 – right to an effective remedy- read in conjunction with violation of Article 3.
This article originally appeared in the ECRE Weekly Bulletin of 19 September 2014. You can subscribe to the Weekly Bulletin here.