§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ask Russia to publish the confidential reports made by the European Committee for Prevention of Torture (under the convention ratified in 1998). [HL189]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanDuring the UK/Russia bilateral human rights talks in March 2003 we asked the Russian delegation whether the Russian Government intended to publish the latest report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).
For the first time, on 30 June 2003, the Russian authorities requested that the CPT partially publish a report on the Russian Federation.
The matter was raised again at the bilateral human rights talks held in September 2004 during which we encouraged the Russian delegation to share all reports produced by the CPT, as we have done, in the spirit of transparency. We will continue to raise this with them at suitable opportunities in the future.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will discuss with the Government of the Russian Federation and the international assemblies concerned the extent to which current political censorship of television and newspapers, combined with alleged attacks on and harassment of journalists, are compatible with Russia's obligations under international human rights conventions. [HL192]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOur annual human rights bilateral dialogue with Russia is specifically aimed at holding each other to account across a range of human rights issues against the background of our international obligations.
Freedom of expression is recognised as a key human right in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Russia and the UK have international obligations under each of these treaties.
Although we acknowledge the plurality of views in Russia's national print media, we have concerns about the state's control over the national broadcast media and reports of attacks and harassment of journalists in Russia.
We raised these concerns during our bilateral human rights discussions with the Russian Government in September 2004. In addition, staff at our embassy in Moscow continue to raise concerns about media freedoms in Russia at every suitable opportunity.