21/02/2008 Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The Rapporteur on human rights defenders of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) calls upon the Russian authorities to reconsider their decision not to issue a travel visa to Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, who was due to visit Moscow to present a report on legal restrictions on civil society in Russia.
“I am disturbed by this decision,” said Holger Haibach (Germany, EPP/CD). “Human rights defenders play a vital role in our societies, and they are key partners for us here in the Assembly. They should be free to carry out their work.”
“Mr Roth is highly respected: he addressed our Assembly last year, and his organisation was recently honoured by the PACE President for its role in exposing secret detentions.”
“I would ask the Russian authorities to let him come and do his legitimate work – also in the interest of Russians who are victims of human rights violations.”
PACE’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights is currently preparing a report on the situation of human rights defenders in Europe, and the Council’s Committee of Ministers recently adopted a declaration on improving their protection.