The European Court of Human Rights

Press Release
issued by the Registrar of the Court
ECHR 073 (2014)
13.03.2014
Interim measure granted in inter-State case brought by Ukraine against Russia
On 13 March 2014 the Government of Ukraine lodged an inter-State application under Article 33
(Inter-State cases) of the European Convention on Human Rights against the Russian Federation.
They also submitted a request under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court for an interim measure indicating
to the Russian Government, among other things, that it should refrain from measures which might
threaten the life and health of the civilian population on the territory of Ukraine.
Considering that the current situation gives rise to a continuing risk of serious violations of the
European Convention, the President of the Third Section has decided to apply Rule 39 of the Rules of
Court. With a view to preventing such violations and pursuant to Rule 39, the President calls upon
both Contracting Parties concerned to refrain from taking any measures, in particular military
actions, which might entail breaches of the Convention rights of the civilian population, including
putting their life and health at risk, and to comply with their engagements under the Convention,
notably in respect of Articles 2 (right to life) and 3 (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment).
Both States were also asked to inform the Court as soon as possible of the measures taken to ensure
that the Convention is fully complied with.
Under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court the Court may indicate to the parties of any interim measure
which it considers should be adopted in the interests of the parties or of the proper conduct of the
proceedings before it.
The inter-State application has been registered under no. 20958/14, Ukraine v. Russia.
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The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe Member
States in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.