You have just returned from Vladimir? .
Our trip to Vladimir was part of our working group on development of civil society in the President's Commission. This group is chaired by myself and my colleague Vladislav Surkov. Topics of discussion was immigration and prison reform. Vladimir, we held meetings with government officials and representatives of civil society in Russia and the U.S.. In addition to this, as in Vladimir, we toured the prison and the factory, which is operated Vietnamese workers.
- Who was the initiator of this trip and this fact, the Russians or the Americans?.
Mr. Surkov, it is his idea of.
You talked about maybe a case of the death of Magnitsky?.
- We discussed, with details. It's tragic death, we discussed her circumstances. In detail, we discussed some legislative reforms proposed by President Medvedev after his death.
On Wednesday, my colleagues and I met with her mother Magnitsky to find out what she thinks about the how the investigation into the death of her son.
Improper hearing Magnitsky caused a reaction in the United States. The Helsinki Commission, chaired by Senator Benjamin Cardin proposed State Department to prohibit entry to the U.S. 60 Russian officials, whom she considers responsible for the death of Magnitsky.
With regard to the letter of Senator Cardin - I work in the White House, and we do not deal with visa issues in accordance with our laws.
But the State Department issues visas, part of the administration of President Obama.
What can I say about this. As I understand it, we do not make public statements about who we give, and who do not issue visas. I can only remember one occasion when we announced that deny a visa - it was the Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic. In this case it does not mean that in many other cases, we can not deny a visa.
With regard to this case people need to understand that they can refuse a visa, it just will not be made public.
- On Wednesday, you have been waiting in the Khamovnichesky court at the trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
- I did not know it.
- In any case, there were rumors. Both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden when he was the senators expressed their doubts about the legality of the trial of Khodorkovsky. As with the case in the U.S. administration are now?.
- First, President Obama last summer in an interview with ... It speaks for itself and more important than I could say. Please refer to it. Secondly, the Obama administration is following this case very closely. Just last week I met with its international lawyers in his office in Washington, and on Wednesday met with one of his lawyers here, with Vadim Klyuvgant to learn what he thinks about this court. So we are watching what is happening. You have heard that said President Medvedev on the rule of law, we support his words. Rule of law - a universal value, and we are very supportive of his initiative in this area.
- There is evidence that the U.S. administration is preparing a report on the situation in Russia. What would it be, clean the analyst, or it will contain some recommendations to improve something here, something there? .
- The State Department annually prepares a report on the human rights situation. The latter was released as recently as two or three weeks ago. This is a very substantial document, which refers to the observance of human rights in Russia. There are, of course, and a set of things that we do on a daily basis in support of democracy and human rights in Russia, ranging from funding for NGOs, technical assistance to various initiatives, work stations, publishing statements on this subject, which makes our officials. We call this the ...
- Speaking of civil society, you know that 31 of every month, human rights activists and opposition members are trying to hold a demonstration at Triumph Square. They are routinely denied. The same applies to the initiative with a gay parade in Moscow. In your opinion, as is consistent with the right to freedom of assembly?.
- I would like to explain what is our policy. Today, President Obama announced a new National Security Strategy. In it you will find a large section devoted to universal values , which very clearly says that the Obama administration is committed to supporting democracy and human rights around the world. Freedom of assembly - one of those rights, we support its defenders around the world, including in Russia.
- You talked about this with representatives of the Russian leadership?.
- We raised all the issues dealing Magnitsky, Khodorkovsky's case, it Sokolova.
- What was their response - ...
- You know, I have to be careful. We agreed that our meetings will be held in private. If you want to hear the answers to these questions, ask Mr. Surkov.
% % What I would say in general, we do not believe that in the course of our dialogue, we must give the Russian side a list of what she should do, and do not expect it from a list of what we should do.
Instead, we look forward to a frank conversation about how our government and our civil society must solve very complex problems. Today we discussed immigration and prison reform, and the last time we discussed the corruption. This exchange of views, dialogue, when one does not censor himself, and said quite openly.
- If you talk about open dialogue, many see the work of the Presidential Commission and your group as an opaque. We have no idea exactly what is discussed during your meeting. Do you intend to change that?.
- We discussed this just today.
We expect to launch a Web site where all the performances, all reports prepared by both governments and nongovernmental organizations, have been published.
We would like to make it interactive so that all the representatives of NGOs and the press who have not had the opportunity to meet with us, could communicate, and we would be - to respond to their comments. This site will be launched in the near future.
- When more accurate?.
- It would be a great success, to make it work for the visit of President Medvedev in the U.S., that is, by June.
Permanent address.
News from Skypecine. com.
