MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI) – Representative of the Russian Federation at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR ), Deputy Minister of Justice Georgy Matyushkin, believes that the implementation of the international obligations of Russia is based on the current constitution of the country,  RIA Novosti reported on Thursday.

International obligations can actually be fulfilled by Russia only by recognition of Constitution’s  judicial  precedence, Matyushkin said during the open hearing of the Constitutional Court regarding the practicability of ECHR decision on the introduction of voting rights for prisoners.

Earlier, the Judicial Ministry turned to the Constitutional Court because of the ECHR ruling in “Anchugov and Gladkov vs. Russia” case. ECHR ruled that prohibition to vote for prisoners is a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Matyushkin said that “as per the Constitutional Court’s ruling of July 14, 2015… if ECHR ruling wrongly addressed the principles and norms of the Russian Constitution, it may be possible to deviate from international obligations in this case if this is the only way to avoid violations of fundamental principles of the Constitution".