Vladimir Ristovski: “CoE’s Committee of Ministers is responsible for supervision and control of the execution of ECHR judgements”. Info-Prim Neo interview with the Special Representative of CoE’s Secretary General

[- Mr. Vladimir Ristovski, recently the President of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, has made some controversial comments on a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. What do you think about the President’s statements concerning a potential non-compliance with ECHR’s ruling?”] The commitments and obligations of the member states towards the Council of Europe are of permanent character. The judgements of the ECHR are final and binding. The High Contracting Parties to the European Convention on Human Rights with the act of ratification also undertake the obligation to abide to the final judgements of the Court in Strasbourg. [- Were there any cases in the Court’s experience where a head of state officially declared that a judgment pronounced by the Court wouldn’t be respected?] The member states of the Council of Europe respect the judgements of the ECHR. [- What could be the consequences for Moldova if the President’s statements are put into practice? Might it lead to Moldova’s exclusion from CoE?] The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe is responsible for supervision and control of the execution of the judgements of the Court. It ensures among the other that the injured party be placed, as far as possible, in the same situation as it enjoyed prior to the violation of the Convention and avoiding new similar violations of the Convention. [Info-Prim Neo’s note: Commenting on the disputes between the Romanian Patriarchate and the Russian Church over the intention to reactivate three Romanian dioceses in Moldova, Vladimir Voronin stated during a TV show on November 30: “If these events are not discontinued, we will reserve ourselves the right to disobey the ECHR’s ruling (to register the Bessarabian Metropolitan Church)”, adding that he was making an official statement as a head of state.]