MOSCOW, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Russia is expected to give the green light onJan. 15for a long-delayed reform to the European Court of Human Rights, the parliament's speaker told Russian news agencies on Jan. 14.
The Kremlin has been involved in a protracted spat with the influential Strasbourg-based Court for refusing to ratify the legal changes, which will allow the Court to streamline and speed up its work.
For years, Russia has been the only member of 47 who blocked ratifying the changes to the Convention of Human Rights.
"We will vote for ratification," parliament speaker Boris Gryzlov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
Seen as a last shot at justice, the European court is becoming increasingly popular in Russia, which had the largest number of accepted cases in 2008 at 8,161.
The protocol, known by its legal reference Protocol 14, will allow the Court to process submitted cases more efficiently and decide on how to handle the small number over which it has jurisdiction.
Analysts say that despite repeated, empty pledges by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to increase openness in society and reduce lawlessness, ratifying the changes will point to a firm achievement.
Gryzlov said Russia’s concerns had now been taken into account, Interfax quoted him as saying.
Referring to the ruling United Russia party, Gryzlov added: "At least the United Russia factions have made this decision."
With a two-thirds majority of Russian lawmakers, United Russia can push the vote through, even if the three other parties in parliament oppose it.
Russia agreed to the reforms in 2004, but has stalled on the final ratification despite persistent pleas from both the Court’s President and the leadership of the Council of Europe.
Russia’s human rights record has been frequently criticised through Court judgements, with a large number of cases linked to the ongoing conflict in Russia’s North Caucasus region that includes Chechnya.
The spokeswoman in the Council of Europe, of which the Court is a constituent part, could not be reached for immediate comment.
