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Yesterday 25 Russian ombudsmen headed by the new Ombudsman of Russia Vladimir Lukin left for the meeting with the PACE Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles in Strasbourg. Before the trip Lukin held a working meeting for his colleagues from the regions where press and representatives from the Presidential Administration were invited. This was the first public appearance of the former Deputy Speaker of the State Duma in his new post.
The head of the Chief Department for Domestic Policy of the Presidential Administration Alexander Kosopkin, who was present at the meeting, said that as Lukin had been appointed by the President [to the post], they had to "together implement difficult functions in close interaction." Then from general words Kosopkin quickly switched to the crux of the matter and instructed the ombudsmen as how they should behave on the foreign trip, "Europe will accuse us about Chechnya, but we would like them to adhere to same principles on the problems of Russians in the Baltic states. We want them to drop their double standards here: I am asking them to put the rights of our compatriots first."
The head of the Presidential Administration for Human Rights Ella Pamfilova switched the discussion to Russian domestic problems. She noted a lack of ombudsmen in the regions: at present only 27 territories of Russia have ombudsmen. In response Lukin shared his plans of creating " a system where the whole of the country will be covered by a network of ombudsmen in the regions." The draft law "On the Basis of the Functioning of Ombudsmen in Russian Federation subjects" became one of the first initiatives in this way. The situation with this issue in the regions, according to Lukin, contradicts the principle of a single legal space.
Lukin also called the "rights of children and women" the main priority of his department. As well as the arbitrary rule of the law and enforcement agencies". "And the lack of rights for migrants," added Lydia Grafova, head of the Migrants' Organisations Forum. "Certainly, answered Lukin, - If we support compatriots aboard, we should create conditions for people of other nationalities too." The Ombudsman refused to comment on the recent developments in the country. "I keep clear of politics, said Lukin bluntly, adding that in accordance with the law he had suspended his membership of YABLOKO. However, pressured by journalists, the ex-YABLOKO member noted gloomily that "the most serious problems are encountered in the regions which collect 97% of the votes and 95% of people vote for one candidate. This is the first sign that far from everything is in order there."
See also:
Human Rights
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