Centralization of power in the executive branch, a compliant State Duma, political pressure on the judiciary and government pressure on opposition political parties eroded the public accountability of government leaders, U.S. experts say. Supporters of the Ukranian presidential candidate Victor Yushchenko are seen in this file picture writing the word "Democracy" on the snow-covered slope of a hill.
Photo: Sergey Mikheev
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US Reports on Steps to Support Democracy in Russia
The U.S. Department of State released an annual human rights report on Thursday, giving enough space to a traditionally critical chapter on Russia.
The most flagrant violations of human rights occur in Chechnya and elsewhere in North Caucasus, the report says. The Russian media continue to be subjected to pressure from the government. Pressure continued to weaken freedom of expression and media independence, particularly of national network, according to the State Department.
Centralization of power in the executive branch, a compliant State Duma, political pressure on the judiciary and government pressure on opposition political parties” eroded the public accountability of government leaders”, U.S. experts believe.
U.S. officials including President Bush, Senate and Congress representatives have repeatedly voiced concern over the human rights record in Russia to their counterparts in Moscow.
In addition, the United States “continued to provide programmatic and technical support to a Russian election watchdog organization and nonpartisan training for political parties and training for mass media representatives on covering political issues and engaging with the public about the role of free media in an open, competitive political system.” The State Department will continue to provide similar aid in support of free and fair elections in Russia for the Duma in December 2007 and for president in March 2008, the report says.
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