The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) Case of S.K. v. Russia, judgment of 14 Feburary 2017

Abstract

An increasing inflow of immigrants exposes European countries to unprecedented challenges in ensuring the efficiency of human rights. Rising xenophobia provokes states to narrowly interpret the 1951 Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees. Among others, a rigorous application of the concept of an individualised fear of persecution excludes the general consequences of war. References to the safe parts of countries of origin are used to justify decisions on the non-granting of international protection. This analysis of the European Court of Human Rights judgment of 14 February 2017 in S.K. v. Russia (Appl. no. 52722/15) refers to all of above-mentioned themes. Moreover, the research compares the Council of Europe standards and Russian legislation and practice with those of the EU.