Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
posted by zaina19 on January, 2006 as Human Rights
From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 1/23/2006 4:04 AM POLITICS / KOMMERSANT Daily, JANUARY 19, 2006
Politics Open Gallery... Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Photo: Dmitry Azarov
Human Rights Watch Report Mentions Russia // Accuses Western leaders of closing their eyes Diagnosis Human Rights Watch released its annual report for 2005 yesterday. “Russia sunk deeper into authoritarianism in 2005,” it concluded. The organization's report criticizes political reforms in Russia (elimination of direct voting for governors) and the appointment of 30 regional leaders by Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. Changes in election law will also lead t the Russian parliament becoming “even more monolithic than it is now.” The new law on noncommercial organizations was described as “draconian.” HRW notes that “events in 2005 demonstrated the continuing inability of Russian authorities to maintain peace in Chechnya and neighboring regions. The conflict continues to cost lives daily” and expresses doubt of the words of Russian officials who speak of the return ofstability to the region. It also noted the growing role of Deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov and the forces under his command in the conflict. Kadyrov was awarded the Hero of Russia award.
For the first time, HRW has accused Western European leaders of ignoring human rights violations in Russia and supporting Putin out of economic, political or energy motivations. The organization says that Russia is necessary Germany for the North European Gas Pipeline and to support its bid for a place on the UN Security Council. Former German chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi were mentioned in this context in particular and ironic praise was given to the U.S. Bush administration (which was sharply criticized elsewhere in the report). The European Unions resolution on Chechnya passed at its October summit is characterized by HRW as cowardly. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking at Georgetown University last night, expressed doubt of Russia's fitness to chair the G8. Meanwhile Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, making his own report on 2005, said recently that “We work in partnership with the Eight. None of them raise the topic that Russia is criticized to any degree for activities in any aspects. We do not see any doubt that Russia s the chairman of the Eight.” by Sergey Strokan
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