21:11, 26 January 2007

Human rights defenders: ethnic discrimination continues in the Krasnodar Territory

The 2006 report on violations of human rights in the Krasnodar Territory evidences a growth of pressure on civil activists and continuation of ethnic discrimination. This was reported by the press service of the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization (ANCO) "Novorossisk Committee for Human Rights."

"Our report has been prepared within the scope of cooperation with the Moscow Helsinki Group and covers the key events of 2006 related to pressure on civil activists and ethnic discrimination," Vadim Karastelyov, an expert of the "Novorossisk Committee for Human Rights" and one of the authors of the report, has explained.

Human rights activists note that the Krasnodar Territory has a unique situation, when the region witnesses systematic violations of human rights, disregard of international law norms, and where the authorities' actions are non-transparent. At the same time, the Territory's administration is trying to entice foreign investors by all means.