RUSSIA TO BRING RIGHTS ACTIVISM BACK, CALLS EXPERT

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MOSCOW, December 2 (RIA Novosti) - "It is a must to use intensive care on human rights activism and bring it back from death's door in a community whose political developments are axed, and whose political arrangements are getting ever further removed from the interests of the citizen and the-man-in-the-street. This community direly needs rights protection," said Sergei Karaganov. President of Russia's council for foreign military policies, he was addressing a media audience in Moscow.

The long-established rights organisations have given up practical activities for many reasons though Russian rights protection has a deplorable scope.

"People are put behind the bars for no reason at all, beaten up and kept jailed through no fault of theirs. Things are going on that way wherever we look, and they must be fought-or Russia will degrade into a country impossible to live in. That means ever more young and brilliant Russians will choose to make home in other countries."

As Professor Karaganov sees it, Russian rights activism needs government funding. If federal allocations come to the purpose, the movement will acquire respectable legitimacy in the public eyes and the business community's opinion.

Meanwhile, a majority of foundations and other rights organisations are financed from abroad-a shame for us, Russians!

The expert also called to amend Russian migration laws. He has joined the presidential council for promotion of human rights and civil society institutions. While on that council, he will see streamlining migration laws among his priority goals, said Mr. Karaganov.

He called public attention to immigrants', refugees' and guest workers' plight. "Cops seize them, and they never see a meal for weeks on end in detention prisons. Administration of the law in that field is getting from bad to worse."

Instead of helping newcomers to adapt to Russian life as quickly as possible, Russia is stooping to every way to oust them. "That's an anti-national policy. These laws need urgent amendment," insists Sergei Karaganov.

"As I see it, the presidential council ought to set up an affiliated commission on immigrant affairs," he said.

With a decree President Vladimir Putin signed, November last, the presidential human rights commission transformed into a presidential council for promotion of human rights and civil society institutions. Prominent rights activist Ella Pamfilova, who headed the commission, was appointed council chair.

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