Russian human rights activists discuss situation in North Caucasus with Condoleezza Rice

Today, US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice has held a meeting in Moscow with representatives of civil organizations and mass media, where they discussed the situation with human rights in Russia, the level of corruption, problems in the area of freedom of speech and the situation in North Caucasus.

"We have discussed the situation with the Russian civil society, the law on non-governmental organizations and the Russian anti-extremist legislation which may be used as a weapon against the political opposition," told Tatiana Lokshina, head of the "Demos" human rights center, to the "Interfax" after the meeting with Rice.

We have discussed the problems of feeble democratic institutions, the problem of the freedom of speech and the situation in the judicial system. We have also discussed the situation in North Caucasus and the fact that an explosive situation remains there, especially in Ingushetia and Dagestan," the human rights activist relayed.

According to Tatiana Lokshina, Rice has ensured them that the USA cooperate with EU in developing a common policy in the sphere of human rights in Russia, although it is the USA, according to Rice, which are "the most vivid mouthpiece of human rights and democracy."

When commenting on the situation with human rights in Russia, Condoleezza Rice has expressed an opinion that concentration of power in the Kremlin is related with a weak civil society.

Apart from the persons mentioned above, the meeting has been attended by Elena Pamfilova, director of "Center of Anti-corruption Research and Initiatives of Transparency International - Russia", William Smirnov, director of Political Research Center of the Institute of State and Law, RAS, and Grigory Shvedov, chief editor of the round-the-clock information and analytical internet edition  "Caucasian Knot".