Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the Russian withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57011/25]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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150. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to a recent United Nations report which suggests that some 60 politically motivated criminal cases are opened against Russian citizens every month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57165/25]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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157. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his response to the recent arrest by the Russian authorities of Maxim Kruglov, deputy leader of Russia’s last remaining opposition party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57164/25]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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160. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the current human rights situation in Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57000/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 150, 157 and 160 together.

Ireland remains extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Russia, which has been exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have seen arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as harassment and persecution, of peaceful anti-war activists, human rights defenders, journalists, cultural figures, members of the LGBTIQ+ community and ethnic minorities. Domestic opposition leaders have been arrested and prosecuted.

Mariana Katzarova, UN United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Russia has reported that there are over 2,000 political prisoners in Russia, many of whom face life-threatening conditions. Some, including Alexei Navalny, have died in detention. Legislation has been introduced to limit civil society activity in Russia.

I am aware of the extremely concerning detention of Mr Maxim Kruglov earlier this month. I am also aware of the recent report from Ms Katzarova, which highlights the prosecution of at least 912 people on politically motivated grounds between 2024 and mid-2025. At the Human Rights Council last month, Ireland participated in an Interactive Dialogue with her, where we condemned the widespread use of torture, enforced disappearances, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment as tools for systematic oppression within Russia and territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia.

I condemn the Russian government’s withdrawal from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Ireland has consistently condemned the mistreatment and torture of prisoners by the Russian Federation. The prevention and eradication of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment has been a key element of Ireland’s approach to human rights for decades. The government strongly believes that the absolute prohibition of torture is one of the cornerstones of the international human rights framework.