Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers urges Russia to observe right to education for children in Latin-script schools from Transnistrian region

The Council of Europe’s (CoE) Committee of Ministers reiterates the obligation of the Russian Federation to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Catan and others v. Moldova and Russia. In this ruling, Russia was held responsible for infringing the right to education of children, parents and teachers from Latin-script schools from the Transnistrian region.

During its 1521st meeting, held from March 4-6, 2025, the CoE’s Committee of Ministers adopted a decision on the non-fulfilment by Russia of ECHR’s decision in the case of Catan and others v. Republic of Moldova and Russian Federation.

The Committee stressed that, although Russia had ceased to be a party to the European Convention on Human Rights in 2022, it stays obliged to fulfill the previous rulings of ECHR. Russia must pay the compensations set by the Court and adopt measures to remedy the documented infringements.

The Committee reaffirmed the importance of primary and secondary education for development and emphasized the right of students to learn in their mother tongue without obstacles. It also insisted on the need for Russia to end the harassment and intimidation of students, parents and teachers from Latin-script schools.

The Promo-LEX Association informed that it had sent a new communication to the Committee of Ministers, asking for the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism, the creation of a compensation fund for victims and an action plan on behalf of Russia. The Association also proposes measures to prevent the forced enrollment of students in paramilitary structures.

Vadim Vieru, a lawyer at Promo-LEX Association, emphasized that it is unacceptable for the right to education of children in Latin-script schools to be continuously ignored during more than a decade after the ECHR ruling.

The Committee of Ministers will review the Catan group of cases at a subsequent meeting, reserving the right to use any suitable means to urge the fulfillment of the ruling. In the context, Promo-LEX Association reiterates its call for all international institutions and competent national authorities to actively engage in ending the persistent infringements of the right to education in the Transnistrian region.