Today Moscow hosted a seminar for criminal judges on the European Convention of Human Rights organized by the Council of Europe with assistance from the Russian Academy of Justice.

The seminar was attended by 50 judges. Inna Smirnova, Lawyer at EPAM, delivered three reports on the European Convention of Human Rights. In particular, she spoke about the registration procedure and the review of applications filed with the European Court of Human Rights and the eligibility criteria for applications. Inna also presented a review of the European Court of Human Rights’ case law and the remedies available to applicants claiming a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention (prohibition of torture). Furthermore, Inna spoke about guarantees of fair trial in compliance with Article 6 of the Convention. In conclusion the seminar attendees analyzed an individual precedent of the European Court of Human Rights whereby an applicant faces deportation to a country where he/she may be subjected to torture or inhuman treatment.

Irina graduated from the Faculty of Law of Nizhny Novgorod State University majoring in European and International Law. Concurrently, she obtained a degree in translation (French and English). She also completed a course at the Central European University (Budapest, Hungary) in Comparative Constitutional Law, and a master's program in Human Rights at Robert Schuman University (Strasbourg, France). In 2010 Inna obtained a Master of Laws degree in international air and space law from McGill University in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) and won the Jose Bogolasky Memorial Prize for the top score in the international public air law. She has worked in the Secretariat of the European Court of Human Rights and has experience in expert examinations and reviewing individual applications lodged with the Court. She took her internship at a Paris law firm specializing in plane crash litigation. Irina is actively involved in academic work and frequently lectures on the European Convention of Human Rights.