MOSCOW, October 30 (RIA Novosti) — Russia is open to constructive dialogue with the West, Russian Foreign Ministry's Human Rights Ombudsman Konstantin Dolgov stated.
"We are still open [to the dialog with the West], but … it should be constructive, equitable, deprived of mentor tone and attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Russia," Dolgov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta Wednesday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry's Human Rights Ombudsman has also noted that for Russia it was unacceptable when Russian laws were violated under the pretext of cooperation.
"That is why Moscow was forced to withdraw from participation in the American FLEX program. Unfortunately, the USA did not meet our legal requirements. Moscow insisted on guarantees for return of the Russian underage citizens, but never received them," Dolgov said.
On September 30, Russian authorities informed the US embassy on their decision to cancel the participation of the Russian schoolchildren in the US Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. Russia made this decision due to US failure to comply with obligations concerning children's return back to their country.
