STRASBOURG, 22.02.2000 - The 41-nation
COUNCIL OF EUROPE Commissioner for Human Rights, Alvaro GIL-ROBLES, will
visit Russia beginning on 24 February, as a follow-up to his first mission
to the country at the end of November last year
During his visit, Mr Gil-Robles will
continue discussions with the Russian authorities concerning the human
rights situation. He will also discuss possible cooperation with the newly
created Office of the Special Representative of the President of the Russian
Federation for ensuring human rights and freedoms of people and citizens
in the Chechen Republic, particularly in what ways the Council of Europe
can assist the work of the Office.
The programme of the visit includes on 25 February meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Igor IVANOV, the newly appointed Human Rights Representative for Chechnya Vladimir KALAMANOV and representatives of NGOs concerned with human rights. The Human Rights Commissioner has also asked to go to Chechnya, to examine the situation there.
Press Contact
Sabine Zimmer or Dmitri Marchenkov, Council of Europe Press Service
Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 97 or +33 3 88 41 38 44 - Fax. +33 3 88 41 27 89
E-mail: PressUnit@coe.int