Human rights must not fall victim to international-relations problems - HRC chief
MOSCOW. April 1 (Interfax) - The problems in international politics must not affect human rights in Russia, said Mikhail Fedotov, who chairs the Russian President's Human Rights Council (HRC).
"It is important to make sure that human rights do not fall victim to the problems in international relations," he said at a reception at the residence of the European Union Ambassador to Russia, Vygaudas Usackas, on Tuesday, on the occasion of the presentation of the EU's new human rights projects.
Russian human rights commissioner Ella Pamfilova concurred with her colleague.
"I shall defend the independent free press, and our independence, and the opportunity to work, and the opportunity to cooperate with our strategic long-term partner (the EU) to the best of my ability, authority and strength," she said.
"The political situation is changing, but our cooperation must develop," the human rights commissioner said.
Pamfilova said she only assumed office on Tuesday. Those present congratulated her with applause, and Usackas presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
The official website of the EU delegation to Russia lists the projects that the EU intends to support with grants. In particular, the largest grant - 975,000 euro - was received by a project to create animation films on the subject of human rights. The project is carried out by the Goethe Center and is called "Humra - animation about human rights."
A 300,000-euro grant was won by the Perm-based Center for Civil Education and Human Rights; and Penal Reform International received 285,000 euro. Among other grant recipients are organizations such as "Man and Law" (the Mari El Republic), the Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia, the Bellona human rights center, The Equal Rights Trust (United Kingdom), the Social Information Agency, the founder of the Caucasian Knot website, Transparency International, Olof Palme International Center (Sweden), the German Cultural Center (Goethe-Institut), and the Public Commission for the Preservation of the Heritage of Academician Sakharov.
