---
title: "PACE proposes mechanism to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine based on ECHR rulings"
description: "The PACE Legal Affairs Committee approved a draft resolution on the creation of a mechanism to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine on the basis of ECHR rulings. The vote on the document is scheduled for 30 September 2026."
date: 2026-09-09T21:34:03.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pace-mechanism-transfer-frozen-russian-assets-ukraine-echr-rulings
tags: [pace, council-of-europe, frozen-russian-assets, echr, ukraine-compensation, russia, international-law]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# PACE proposes mechanism to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine based on ECHR rulings

![European Court of Human Rights judges in session — mechanism to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine via the ECHR](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/10/pase-mehanizm-peredachi-zamorozhennyh-aktivov-rf-ukraine/pase-mehanizm-peredachi-zamorozhennyh-aktivov-rf-ukraine-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The PACE Legal Affairs Committee approved a draft resolution on creating a mechanism to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine on the basis of ECHR rulings
- The report was prepared by the United Kingdom's representative, Tony Vogan; the vote is scheduled for 30 September 2026
- In July 2025, the ECHR found the Russian Federation responsible for human rights violations and the downing of MH17, but the amount of compensation has not yet been determined
- PACE emphasised that Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe does not annul its obligations under the already issued ECHR rulings

The Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has approved a draft resolution and recommendation, prepared on the basis of a report by the United Kingdom's representative, Tony Vogan. The document proposes the creation, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, of a special financial mechanism that would allow the immobilised funds of the Russian central bank to be directed toward payments of compensation to Ukraine in accordance with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). According to the committee's assessment, the use of Russian assets for compensation may be recognised as a lawful countermeasure in compliance with the norms of international law. The proposal will be considered at the PACE session on 30 September 2026.

### Legal basis and the role of the ECHR

The initiative is grounded in existing case law: in two inter-State cases, the ECHR found Russia responsible for serious human rights violations committed during the war against Ukraine. In July 2025, the Court issued unprecedented rulings confirming numerous crimes by the Russian Federation, including responsibility for the downing of flight MH17. This became the most extensive condemnation of an aggressor in the history of the European judicial system. However, the specific amount of the "just satisfaction" that Moscow is to pay has not yet been determined by the Court — this question remains open and will be resolved in the course of subsequent proceedings.

### Scale of potential compensation

Given the scale of the damage inflicted on Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression, the figures, according to PACE parliamentarians' estimates, could potentially amount to billions, tens of billions, or even hundreds of billions of euros. The exact sum will depend on the ECHR's final rulings on determining the amount of "just satisfaction," as well as on the final assessment of material and non-material harm. The creation of a special financial mechanism under the auspices of the Council of Europe is intended to ensure the transparency and legal soundness of the process of redirecting the frozen funds.

### Russia's status after leaving the Council of Europe

The PACE committee specifically emphasised that Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe does not annul its responsibility for violations committed prior to its exclusion. The Russian Federation ceased to be a party to the European Convention on Human Rights six months after its exclusion from the organisation; however, the ECHR's rulings on previously committed violations continue to be in force. "This obligation under international law does not diminish over time and cannot be abolished by the domestic legislation of the Russian Federation," the committee stated. Thus, the legal basis for the recovery of compensation is preserved regardless of Moscow's current membership in the Council of Europe structures.

### Additional committee initiatives

In addition to the main asset-transfer mechanism, PACE parliamentarians called on national authorities to ensure that other claimants in cases against Russia are able to initiate legal proceedings to obtain the compensation due to them in the event that Moscow refuses to pay it. Moreover, the committee proposed creating an open list of individuals found to be involved in large-scale human rights violations and who have not yet been held accountable. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening individual access to justice and increasing the transparency of the accountability process.

### Timeline and voting prospects

The draft resolution and recommendation prepared by Tony Vogan have already received approval at the level of the PACE Legal Affairs Committee. The final vote on the document is scheduled for 30 September 2026. The outcome of the session will determine whether the mechanism for transferring frozen assets will be formalised at the Assembly level and what specific steps will need to be taken by the national governments — member states of the Council of Europe — to implement it. For Ukraine, the adoption of the resolution will be an important diplomatic and legal step on the path to recovering compensation for the consequences of Russian aggression.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [It has become known how Ukraine can obtain Russia's frozen funds](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/stalo-vidomo-k-ukrayina-mozhe-otrimati-zamorozheni-1788988396.html) - Основной источник. Подтверждает утверждение проекта резолюции комитетом, роль Тони Вогана, дату голосования 30 сентября, ссылку на решения ЕСПЧ и механизм контрмеры.
- [How Ukraine can obtain frozen Russian assets](https://novosti.ua/economic/pase-predlozhila-mehanizm-peredachi-zamorozhennyh-aktivov-rossii-ukraine) - Совпадает по ключевым фактам: механизм под эгидой Совета Европы, два межгосударственных дела ЕСПЧ, масштаб в миллиарды/сотни миллиардов евро.
- [PACE proposes directing frozen Russian assets to compensation for Ukraine](https://ru.interfax.com.ua/news/political/1201455.html) - Подтверждает юридическое обоснование как законной контрмеры, цитату об обязательстве, не упраздняемом внутренним законодательством РФ, и инициативу по перечню причастных лиц.
- [PACE proposes transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine on the basis of ECHR rulings](https://news.am/ru/news/1060660) - Совпадает по хронологии: июль 2025 — решения ЕСПЧ по MH17 и нарушениям; сентябрь 2026 — голосование. Нет расхождений с другими источниками.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What exactly did the PACE Legal Affairs Committee propose?
**A:** The committee approved a draft resolution and recommendation on the creation of a special financial mechanism under the auspices of the Council of Europe that would allow the frozen funds of the Russian central bank to be directed toward payments of compensation to Ukraine in accordance with the ECHR's rulings.

### Q: When will the vote on this draft take place?
**A:** The proposal will be considered at the PACE session on 30 September 2026.

### Q: Has the amount of compensation that Russia must pay already been determined?
**A:** No. The ECHR found Russia responsible in two inter-State cases, but the specific amount of the "just satisfaction" has not yet been determined by the Court. According to PACE estimates, the figure could amount to billions, tens of billions, or even hundreds of billions of euros.

### Q: Does Russia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe annul its responsibility under the ECHR's rulings?
**A:** No. PACE emphasised that the ECHR's rulings on violations committed prior to Russia's exclusion continue to be in force. This obligation under international law does not diminish over time and cannot be abolished by the domestic legislation of Russia.

### Q: Who is the author of the report on which the resolution is based?
**A:** The report was prepared by Tony Vogan, the United Kingdom's representative in the PACE.