The position of the British government regarding the Russian regime is very clear: relations between London and Moscow were frozen long before the invasion of Ukraine. Despite this fact, the conservative government has decided not to investigate Russia’s alleged interference in the British elections and the Brexit referendum, writes the Italian press, cited by Rador.

These are the allegations brought to the government by a cross-party group of British parliamentarians, who have now been given permission to refer the case to the European Court of Human Rights. It is the first time that sitting MPs have gone to court in Strasbourg, taking the government to court to protect national security.

“The future of democracy is at stake,” said Greens MP Caroline Lucas, who filed the claim alongside Labour’s Ben Bradshaw and the SNP’s Aline Smith. The cause was also supported by non-profit news organization The Citizens and two members of the House of Lords, Liberal Democrat Paul Strasburger and Conservative Patience Wheatcroft.

The Intelligence and Security Committee’s 2019 report, published in July 2020, concluded that there was “compelling evidence” of Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum and the UK election.

Then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson first delayed the publication of the report, then ignored the Commission’s recommendations to strengthen institutional protections and launch an independent investigation similar to the Mueller report in the US, which found evidence of “systematic” attempts by Moscow. influence the 2016 presidential election.

According to MEPs, the refusal of the British government to investigate “violates the right of citizens to fair and transparent elections”, a right guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. MPs then appealed to the British courts, but the High Court dismissed the case and the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

For this reason, in March 2022, the deputies appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled on the merits of the case and wrote to the British government, which has until April 26 to respond to the allegations.

This is the first time that the Strasbourg Court has considered the influence of foreign governments on free and transparent elections. For this reason, in the Court’s view, this is a case that could have significant consequences for European governments and their duty to protect citizens from the threat of information manipulation by foreign regimes.

“It’s been two-and-a-half years since the Russian report showed credible evidence of election meddling in the UK, but our government has continued to act as if nothing happened, despite the stunning findings,” Lucas said.

“Now, with new elections on the horizon and Russia’s war against Ukraine seemingly endless, the stakes are very high. Ministers can no longer continue to ignore national security issues for reasons of political expediency, refusing to defend democracy.”