Russia: NGOs presented report on human rights

In 2005 a new mechanism was established for the discussion of the Human Rights situation between the European Union (represented through the Council of Europe, the European Commission and Austria as current head of the EC Presidency) and Russia (represented through the Ministry of External Relations). The Human Rights consultations take place twice a year ? in 2005 in Brussles and Luxemburg, in March 2006 in Vienna. 13 Russian and seven international NGOs prepared an additional independant report for the consultations focussing on four main issues. First ? the Human Rights situation in Chechnya and the whole Northern Caucasus. Second ? the rule of law, the independence of courts, cases of pressure on lawyers and the situation among police forces. Third ? the actual situation for NGOs under the new legal regulations since April 2006. Fourth ? racism, xenophobia and intolerance towards representatives of ethnic and religious minorities. The NGOs presented a series of detailed reports on these topics. www.memo.ru