COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATIONOF RACIAL DISCRIMINATIONSeventy-third sessionGeneva, 28 July-15 August 2008

written Replies provided by the government of theRussian Federation to the list of issues formulatedby the rapporteur of the committee on theELIMINATION of Racial Discrimination relating tothE consideration of the eighteenth and nineteenthcombined periodic reports of the Russian Federation (cerd/c/rus/19) *

[Replies received on 24 July 2008]

Replies from the Russian Federation to the additional written questionsrelating to the eighteenth and nineteenth combined periodic reports of the Russian Federation on implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

1.According to the Russian national census conducted in 2002, there are 145,166,000 inhabitants of the Russian Federation (73.3 per cent of the population is urban and 26.7 per cent is rural), professing Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and other religions and beliefs.

According to the census, there are 160 peoples in the Russian Federation. Most of the population is made up of Russians (79.8 per cent), although the number of Russians has declined by 1.7 per cent since 1989. The second most populous group is Tatars, who number 5.56 million, or almost 3.8 per cent of the country’s population. They are followed (in decreasing order) by Ukrainians (2 per cent), Bashkirs (1.2 per cent), Chuvash (1.1 per cent), Chechens (0.9 per cent), Armenians (0.8 per cent), Avars (0.6 per cent), Belarusians (0.6 per cent), Mordvinians (0.6 per cent), Azerbaijanis (0.6 per cent), Kazakhs (0.5 per cent), Udmurts (0.5 per cent), Dargins (0.4 per cent), Kabardin (0.4 per cent), Mari (0.4 per cent), Germans (0.4 per cent), Ossetians (0.4 per cent), Buryats (0.3 per cent), Ingush (0.3 per cent), Kumyks (0.3 per cent), Laks (0.3 per cent), Lezgins (0.3 per cent), Jews (0.2 per cent), Komi (0.2 per cent), Tuvans (0.2 per cent), Adygeis (0.1 per cent), Altais (0.1 per cent), Balkars (0.1 per cent), Greeks (0.1 per cent), Georgians (0.1 per cent), Kalmyks (0.1 per cent), Karachais (0.1 per cent), Karelians (0.1 per cent), Komi-Permyaks (0.1 per cent), Koreans (0.1 per cent), Moldovans (0.1 per cent), Nogai (0.1 per cent), Poles (0.1 per cent), Cossacks (0.1 per cent), Tabasaran (0.1 per cent), Tajiks (0.1 per cent), Turks (0.1 per cent), Uzbeks (0.1 per cent), Khakas (0.1 per cent), Roma (0.1 per cent) and Circassians (0.1 per cent). The total number of the remaining peoples does not exceed 3.6 per cent.

Article 3 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation states that “the sole repository of power in the Russian Federation is its multi-ethnic people”. In accordance with this and other norms contained in the Constitution, representatives of all ethnic groups of the Russian Federation are equally entitled to become members of the civil service at all levels of government, without prejudice or advantages on ethnic grounds.

The fact that representatives of all nationalities of the Russian Federation are equally entitled to become civil servants in government bodies precludes the possibility of a statistical breakdown of these bodies by ethnic origin. As a matter of policy, statistics of this nature are not kept for any level of the executive branch in order to avoid the possibility of discrimination on ethnic grounds.

2.Under Russian legislation, discrimination, including racial discrimination, is a criminal offence. Article 136 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation defines discrimination as the violation of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of persons and citizens on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, language, origin, property status, occupation, place of residence, attitude to religion, beliefs or membership of a voluntary association or social group. This offence infringes the constitutional right of citizens contained in article 19 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, according to which everyone is equal before the law and the courts. Such a violation of rights is understood as the restriction of citizens’ rights on the basis of one of the

attributes listed above; a violation of this kind may take the form of favouring citizens of a specific ethnic group or a specific sex, in hiring, admission to educational establishments, dismissal from work and also in other cases.

3.In the Russian Federation, guarantees of equality are subject to special State legal protection. As has already been mentioned, the Constitution sets forth the principle of equality before the law and the courts. In this context, it should be pointed out that legislation on civil procedure, administrative offences and criminal procedure provides equal opportunities to use procedural means to defend one’s rights and interests. In particular, the parties are given equal opportunities to consult the materials of the case, to file petitions, to question parties to the proceedings, witnesses and experts, to raise objections, to provide explanations to the court, to participate in deliberations, and so forth. In addition to equal procedural rights, the parties have equal procedural obligations. The principle of the equality of the parties is also observed in constitutional proceedings. As can be seen, the foregoing ensures the implementation of the provisions of article 2, paragraph 1 (c), of the Convention.

4.The Mass Media Act and the Federal Act on measures to counter extremist activities prohibit the use of the mass media for extremist activities, including activities intended to incite racial and ethnic discord.

Questions relating to combating extremism and the dissemination of racist and xenophobic materials in the mass media are dealt with by the procuratorial bodies of the Russian Federation. A list of materials recognized by the courts to be extremist in accordance with the provisions of article 13 of the Federal Act on measures to counter extremist activities is periodically published in the mass media and is under constant supervision by the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation.

Following an investigation carried out by the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation, and the adoption of measures to facilitate a response by the procuratorial authorities at the end of 2006, the activities of the Federal Communications and Mass Media Oversight Service were significantly stepped up.

In its monitoring of the observance of legislation in the field of the mass media and mass communications, in 2007 the Federal Communications and Mass Media Oversight Service identified 43 cases of publication in the mass media of materials containing evidence of extremist activities. In this connection, 43 written official warnings were sent to the editorial offices of the relevant mass media in accordance with the procedure established in article 16 of the Mass Media Act.

In implementation of the requirements of the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation, the Federal Communications and Mass Media Oversight Service has established territorial bodies, and departments have adopted acts on the organization of efforts to prevent extremism.

Over the past several years, representatives of the mass media have been convicted for publishing extremist materials, including racist and xenophobic materials.

On 14 April 2006, pursuant to article 282 (Incitement of hatred or enmity, and degradation of human dignity), paragraph 2 (b), of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the Vologda city court sentenced Ms. A.V. Smirnova, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Nash region plyus (Our Region Plus), to a fine of 100,000 roubles. Ms. Smirnova had allowed the publication, in the 15 February 2006 issue of the newspaper, of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad; in doing so, she engaged in an act intended to incite hatred and enmity and to insult the dignity of Muslims.

On 30 May 2007, the Cherepovets city court in Vologda province sentenced Mr. I.A. Bazanov under article 282, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Code to deprivation of liberty, suspended, for the preparation and dissemination in Cherepovets of four issues of the publication entitled Yudobor Zhidodav (Kike-Fighter Yid-Basher), which foster hatred and enmity towards Jews and insult their dignity on ethnic and religious grounds.

The Sochi central district court sentenced Ms. Donskaya, the founder, publisher and editor of the newspaper Russky Vestnik Kubani (Russian Bulletin of Kuban), for publishing in this newspaper, in March 2006, the poem Progonite zhida (Kick Out the Yid), which contained information intended to incite hatred and enmity and to insult dignity on ethnic and religious grounds; the poem also called for hostile and other violent acts against persons belonging to the Jewish ethnic group. For multiple offences under article 280 (Public calls for extremist activities, made through the use of the mass media), paragraph 2, and article 282, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Code, Ms. Donskaya was sentenced to three years’ deprivation of liberty with deprivation of the right to engage in publishing activities for a period of three years. On the basis of article 73 of the Criminal Code, the decision was taken to suspend the sentence of deprivation of liberty.

Since 2004, the Federal Communications and Mass Media Oversight Service has issued 123 warnings to the editorial offices for using the mass media for extremist activities.

For violations involving incitement of inter-ethnic discord, 24 warnings were issued in 2007, and 9 warnings for the first six months of 2008. There were no cases in which the Federal Communications and Mass Media Oversight Service issued warnings for inciting racial discord.

5.The Federal Act on measures to counter extremist activities provides for measures to counter all the forms of extremist activity listed in article 1 of the Federal Act.

It is not true that the Russian Federation applies the Federal Act primarily against Muslims belonging to groups professing non-traditional Islam. This is confirmed by statistical indicators of criminal cases involving the dissemination of extremist materials; such cases are overseen by the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation (see also the information contained in paragraph 7).

6.Questions relating to the observance of the law are of priority importance in the work of control headquarters in the Chechen Republic, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Central Internal Affairs Department, the Internal Affairs Department in the South Federal District, and also personnel involved in counter-terrorism operations in the Northern Caucasus Region.

All operations planned and carried out in the Northern Caucasus Region are conducted in accordance with Federal Act No. 144-FZ of 12 August 1995 on operations and investigations. In order to prevent any violation of legislation, heads of administrations, civil society and the clergy are encouraged to carry out preventive measures in communities.

Official investigations are conducted into all allegations of unlawful actions on the part of internal affairs offices; on the basis of the outcome of such investigations, measures are taken in accordance with the law. In 2008, no officers of the internal affairs bodies of the Chechen Republic, the Republic of Ingushetia or the Republic of Dagestan were held criminally liable for unlawful detention or improper treatment of detainees.

When various bodies are investigated, any shortcomings that are found are immediately removed. During the visit of Mr. Mauro Palma, the President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to the Republic of Ingushetia from 31 March to 2 April 2008, shortcomings identified in the living conditions of persons being held in the temporary holding facilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia were eliminated: the furnishings of police control rooms, the room in which prisoners meet with relatives, an additional lavatory and shower room and the medical attendant’s office were improved. The lighting system was completely replaced. A new water supply system was installed in the temporary holding facility. When it was technically possible to connect them to the sewage system, cells were equipped with toilets and taps with drinking water; the ventilation system was replaced. Other work was carried out with a view to bringing about a substantial improvement in detention conditions.

In 2008, additional plans were made to make major repairs to the temporary holding facilities of the internal affairs offices for Sunzha and Malgobek districts.

The comments made by the persons who verified the length of detention in temporary holding facilities may be explained by the fact that the penal correction system in the Republic of Ingushetia does not have any remand centres, as a result of which the holding facility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia is being temporarily used to incarcerate persons suspected or accused of committing offences, as well as defendants. This problem will be solved when the construction of the remand centre of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in Karabulak has been completed.

It should be noted that there have been no recorded cases of the use of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, or of the use of special means against suspects and accused persons in the temporary holding facilities of the ministries of internal affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia, for the Republic of Dagestan and for the Chechen Republic. No hunger strikes or other protest actions have been declared by detainees in the temporary holding facilities.

The questions of legality and discipline in territorial bodies and subdivisions, and the quality and objectivity of official investigations of citizens’ reports and complaints, are discussed and analysed on a quarterly basis, and the results of the operational activities of the ministries of internal affairs for the republics are summarized.

In order to promote openness and publicity, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation cooperates with all voluntary organizations capable of dialogue and with the offices of human rights commissioners.

On 29 February 2008, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Human Rights Commissioner, the Public Chamber of the Chechen Republic, the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Chechen Republic, the Council of Non-Governmental Organizations and associations for monitoring and promoting the rights of civil society under the authority of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Chechen Republic.

Under the aforementioned agreement, the staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Chechen Republic hold ongoing working meetings with Mr. N.S. Nukhajiev, the Human Rights Commissioner, and members of his staff. Mr. U. Akhmatkhanov, the representative of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Chechen Republic, regularly and without hindrance visits places of deprivation of liberty in the Republic in order to monitor the human rights situation and take timely measures.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia works closely with Mr. A.K. Korkurkhaev, head of the section for the observance of human rights in the activities of internal affairs offices in the Republic of Ingushetia; Mr. Korkukhaev has taken part in a number of activities conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia, including the expanded conference held on 15 January 2008 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia. By the decision of the conference, the improvement of personnel policy, the reform of the system of educational work with personnel, the strengthening of work discipline and legality have been made priority areas for the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia.

In the Republic of Dagestan, Mr. S.S. Alisultanov, the Human Rights Commissioner, takes part in meetings of the Social Council, which was established in April 2008. Questions relating to measures to prevent abductions in 2007, with the participation of the Human Rights Commissioner, representatives of civil society and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Dagestan, were discussed with the President of the Republic of Dagestan.

Order No. 127 of 25 March 2008 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Chechen Republic, with a view to involving representatives of civil society and professional associations and intellectuals in the drafting of the main areas of State policy relating to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the strengthening of legality and the consolidation of civil society and a democratic State based on the rule of law, established the Social Council under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Chechen Republic. Similar councils have been established and are in operation in the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Dagestan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Republic of Ingushetia.

The combination of law enforcement and security measures has brought about a radical change in the number of abductions in the republics of the Northern Caucasus Region.

In the Chechen Republic, where the number of such offences was extremely high, positive results in countering criminal acts involving abductions have been achieved as a result of the comprehensive programme for the prevention of abductions and the search for missing persons for 2006-2010, which was drawn up and approved on 4 August 2006 by a joint order of control headquarters in the Chechen Republic and the military procurator’s office and the procurator’s office of the Chechen Republic. The strict implementation of the activities under the programme has made it possible to record and register all reports and communications concerning disappearances and to organize the necessary cooperation in identifying and apprehending the criminals.

On 25 March 2008, Joint Order No. 25-15/27-128 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Chechen Republic and other law enforcement agencies entered into force. The Joint Order deals with the procedure for handling reports and communications concerning disappearances.

On 30 March 2007, a coordinating meeting of heads of law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Dagestan was held to consider the state of efforts to solve murders involving the disappearance of citizens, to search for persons who have disappeared and to prevent abductions and trafficking in persons.

On 13 May 2008, a meeting was held with the participation of Colonel-General A.L. Edelev, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs; the meeting considered the state of efforts to prevent abductions during the period 1999-2008. It was noted that the situation had been stabilized. At the same time, the number of this type of offences continues to be negatively affected when relatives, in an attempt to evade criminal responsibility, call for a search for citizens who have voluntarily joined the ranks of illegal armed groups, and when women are abducted for the purpose of marriage.

Law enforcement agencies, government bodies and voluntary organizations often receive communications from citizens whose relatives were killed when they engaged in armed resistance. When investigated, reports of this type are not confirmed; they are usually prompted by a wish to be rehabilitated in the eyes of society or to receive monetary compensation.

In Dagestan in 2008, of the 23 crimes under article 126 of the Criminal Code, 13 were solved; in 2007, 11 out of 27 crimes were solved. Twenty-five persons were abducted, including eight women for the purpose of marriage and two children for the purpose of adoption; nine persons were abducted by unidentified individuals in camouflage uniforms (one abduction related to a past incident, and six other persons were abducted). Twenty-seven individuals were prosecuted, and the search for 23 individuals is continuing.

During the current period, four offences involving abduction were registered in the Chechen Republic, three of which concerned abductions that took place in past years. Three cases (28 in 2007) were solved. The investigations of three criminal cases (24 in 2007) were completed and the cases were referred to the courts for trial; six persons were prosecuted. The clearance rate was 42.9 per cent (23.8 per cent in 2007). Four offences (14 in 2007) remained unsolved.

In the Republic of Ingushetia, criminal proceedings were instituted in one case; the crime was solved (11 in 2007); one person was abducted. The investigations of five criminal cases were completed; the clearance rate was 71.4 per cent.

During the entire period of the counter-terrorism operation in the Chechen Republic, 2,046 criminal proceedings involving the abduction and unlawful deprivation of liberty of 2,852 persons were instituted; 544 persons were found or returned home on their own.

The courts received 125 criminal cases of this type involving 185 accused persons; proceedings were terminated in 32 cases.

Procuratorial bodies instituted criminal proceedings in all cases and conducted comprehensive investigations and search operations.

Most of the abductions are carried out by criminal groups specializing in such offences for the purpose of receiving a ransom or other advantages, primarily of a material nature.

At present, the procurator’s offices of the aforementioned republics have radically altered their approach to their efforts to monitor the consideration of reports and communications concerning unlawful detention, abductions and involuntary disappearances, as well as the investigation of this category of criminal cases.

Updated reports of registered offences are studied every day, and the handling by procurator’s offices of communications concerning unlawful detention, abductions and involuntary disappearances - including the completeness and effectiveness of the measures taken, and the legality, validity and timeliness of procedural decisions - is monitored.

Electronic databases on criminal proceedings involving abductions and disappearances are being created. The records of proceedings instituted in such cases are verified on a regular basis.

The irreversibility of the positive political and social processes taking place in the republics of the Northern Caucasus is being increasingly recognized by the international community. This is fully confirmed by the positive assessments and opinions that were expressed during the visit by Mr. Thomas Hammarberg, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, to Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan. On 25 April 2008, the Commissioner’s representative in the Chechen Republic, Mr. M.S. Madaev, attended a meeting between Mr. D.A. Medvedev and Mr. Hammarberg.

An important role in the stabilization of the situation in the Northern Caucasus is played by law enforcement agencies, whose representatives ensure, often at the cost of their own lives, public safety and public order. During the first six months of 2008, 40 law enforcement officers were killed by bandits in the Chechen Republic, 9 in Dagestan and 12 in Ingushetia; 74 officers were wounded in the Chechen Republic, 14 in Dagestan and 51 in Ingushetia.

7.According to statistics, since 2004 the Russian Federation has witnessed an increase in the number of extremist offences. In 2004, 130 extremist acts were committed, 152 were registered in 2005, 263 in 2006 and 356 in 2007. During the first quarter of 2008, the number of such acts in comparison with 2007 rose by 142.6 per cent. Acts of extremism occurred predominantly in the Central (124), Privolzhsky (61) and North-Western (52) federal districts.

However, this tendency not only reflects the spread of extremist ideas in society. One of the reasons for the increase in extremist offences is that a number of articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation have been amended to include extremist activities as a punishable offence. Federal Act No. 211-FZ of 24 July 2007 amended article 282-1 of the Criminal Code (Organization of an extremist association) to include offences committed on the grounds of political, ideological, racial, ethnic or religious hatred or enmity, or on the grounds of hatred or enmity towards any social group, as offences of an extremist nature.

In addition, police operations and investigative and judicial practices are constantly being improved. As practice shows, the new legal provisions have already begun to be applied by the courts. This is demonstrated by the increase in the number of crimes of an extremist nature that were solved in 2007, as well as the number of persons identified as having been involved in such crimes.

According to the statistical data of the legal department of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, 1,143 persons were convicted of offences of an extremist nature during the period 2004-2007.

In 2007, 71 persons were convicted of offences covered by article 280 (Public calls for extremist activities), article 282 (Incitement of hatred or enmity, and degradation of human dignity), article 282-1 and article 282-2 (Organization of the activities of an extremist organization) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (see also the information provided in paragraph 21).

Criminal proceedings involving this category of offences were conducted by courts of 46 regions of the Russian Federation. Most of the cases were considered by courts in Moscow, Moscow province, Saint Petersburg, the Republic of Dagestan, the Komi Republic and the Chechen Republic.

The most common offences qualified as extremist by Russian legislation are murder on the grounds of ethnic, racial or religious hatred or enmity (Criminal Code, art. 105, para. 2 (k)), public calls for extremist activities (Criminal Code, art. 280) and incitement of hatred or enmity, and degradation of human dignity (Criminal Code, art. 282). In 2007, 22 offences were committed under article 105, 38 under article 280, and 170 under article 282 of the Criminal Code.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation carries out ongoing operations to identify, suppress and solve crimes of an extremist nature.

Thus, the activities of an extremist nationalist group that in 2006 engaged in acts of vandalism in the Jewish and Tatar sections of Dmitrovo-Cherkassy cemetery in Tver province, as a result of which 149 gravestones were damaged, were identified and suppressed. Moreover, members of the group were found to have committed other serious and particularly serious offences, including murders and robberies, against peoples of the Caucasus. In 2008, the criminals were sentenced to long terms of deprivation of liberty.

The activities of a criminal group whose members, inspired by nationalist motives, set off a bomb in Cherkizovsky market in Moscow in August 2006, were identified and suppressed. As a result of the explosion, 66 people suffered (12 died), including 2 small children. In 2008, the members of the group were sentenced to long terms of deprivation of liberty.

With a view to preventing extremist acts, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation constantly monitors the activities of such right-wing radical nationalist associations as the National-Socialist Society, the Movement against Illegal Immigration, the Russian National Union, the Rus Party for the Defence of the Russian Constitution, the Slavic Union, and the skinhead movement.

The materials collected during the documentation of the activities of the National Bolshevik Party, an interregional voluntary organization, served as grounds for the Moscow city court’s decision of 19 April 2007, which declared that organization to be extremist and prohibited its activities. The ruling of 7 August 2007 of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld the decision of the Moscow city court.

On 1 November 2007, the Lublino district court in Moscow convicted Mr. Martakov to 18 months’ deprivation of liberty for acts committed on 27 August 2007 against citizens of Tajikistan and persons belonging to “non-Slavic” ethnic groups, involving multiple offences covered by article 213 (Hooliganism), paragraph 1 (a) and (b), and article 116 (Beating), paragraph 2 (a) and (b), of the Criminal Code.

In individual cases, offences motivated by racial and ethnic hatred, as well as acts intended to incite hatred or enmity on ethnic grounds, involved the infliction of moderate to serious damage to the health of the victims.

On 2 July 2007, the Oktyabrsky district court of Belgorod convicted Mr. Vedernikov and the minor Sklyar, who harbour groundless enmity and hatred towards persons of “non-Slavic” ethnic groups, of acts of hooliganism in November 2006 against citizens of Yemen, China and Palestine. Vedernikov, who used a knife against a Palestinian during the acts of hooliganism and seriously wounded the victim, was sentenced under article 213, paragraph 2, and article 112 (Intentional infliction of injury of moderate gravity), paragraph 2 (f), to five years and six months’ deprivation of liberty.

On 31 January 2007, the Oktyabrsky district court in Tambov convicted Mr. Gordeev under article 282, paragraph 2 (a), and article 112, paragraph 2 (d) and (f), of the Criminal Code for publicly insulting, in Tambov on 6 December 2005, together with unidentified individuals, citizens of Jordan and Palestine, degrading their dignity on the grounds of ethnicity, beating them and wounding one of them with a knife, which caused moderate physical injury.

There have been cases in which persons have been convicted for committing, on nationalist grounds, offences against life and health, causing moderate, serious and particularly serious injury.

Thus, on 9 February 2007 the Sverdlov provincial court convicted the minors Golubnichy, Vlasov, Dushkin and Gatarov under article 105, paragraph 2 (g) and (k), of the Criminal Code for the group murder, on the grounds of ethnic hatred, of Dzyuba, an ethnic Jew, and Murtazaeva for abetting the commission of this offence, under article 33 (Complicity), paragraph 5, and article 105, paragraph 2 (g) and (k), of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

On 12 June 2007, the Saint Petersburg city court, with the participation of a jury, convicted Orlov, Olenev, Gerasimov and Gromov under article 105, paragraph 2 (g) and (k), of the Criminal Code for the murder on 9 September 2005 of a citizen of the Republic of the Congo, R.F. Epassaka, on the grounds of racial hatred and enmity.

On 25 January 2007, the Ostrogozhsk city court in Voronezh province convicted the minors Kharin, Lutsenko, Timashov and Sukhanov under article 111 (Intentional infliction of serious damage to health), paragraph 4, of the Criminal Code for an offence committed against Chan Ngok Bin, a citizen of the Russian Federation. The aforementioned persons encountered Chan Ngok Bin on the street and determined from his appearance that he belonged to a different race and ethnic group; they followed him and, on the grounds of ethnic and racial hatred, beat him, inflicting serious injuries, that resulted in the victim’s death.

On 30 October 2006, the Moscow provincial court convicted Ignatyev, Alekseichik and others (a total of 11 persons, 9 of whom were minors) who, being staunchly opposed to persons belonging to “non-Slavic” ethnic groups, in January and February 2005, subjected the Uzbeks Makhmudov, Abdrakhmanov and Alimatov and the Korean Tyan to beatings, resulting in the deaths of Makhmudov and Abdrakhmanov.

Efforts to combat extremism as a whole and nationalism in particular is currently one area of activity of law enforcement agencies in Krasnodar territory.

Measures have been taken to halt the activities of the regional division of the National Bolshevik Party, an interregional nationalist organization, in Krasnodar territory. The court has prohibited the activities of the organization Spiritual Ancestral Russian Empire Rus, which calls for the creation of a so-called “Slavic-Aryan” State; the leaders of the organization have been prosecuted.

In addition, with a view to improving the organization of measures to combat extremism, and in connection with adoption of Federal Act No. 148-FZ of 27 July 2006 on amendments to articles 1 and 15 of the Federal Act on measures to counter extremist activities, the central internal affairs department for Krasnodar territory is taking a number of organizational and preventive measures.

In order to carry out ongoing monitoring of the current situation and to ensure the timely receipt of information on developments taking place in informal movements and organizations, particularly among young people, and the immediate verification of such information, pursuant to an order by the head of the central internal affairs department for Krasnodar territory, the territory’s internal affairs offices have established working groups composed of members of departments for the protection of public order, minors’ affairs units, and precinct commissioners of the militia. Executive officers responsible for the direct monitoring of the local situation have been appointed, and a procedure for cooperation with local government bodies has been developed.

With a view to carrying out operational measures and measures to counter extremist activities, the central internal affairs department for Krasnodar territory and the Administration of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation for Krasnodar territory have prepared, and approved joint plans, which include:

Cooperation and exchange of information with the structural units of the Krasnodar territory administration concerning the activities of voluntary, political and religious organizations, ethnic and cultural associations and informal youth organizations

Organization of cooperation between the Administration of the Federal Security Service and the central internal affairs department in the identification and suppression of the activities of extremists and extremist organizations, illegal migration channels, and illicit arms trafficking; adoption of measures for the collection of information and the documentation of all cases in which individuals and organizations participate in extremist activities

Conduct of preventive activities with a view to ensuring the safety of citizens in places where social and political and mass cultural events are held

Organization of the conduct of comprehensive preventive measures by the services and units of the criminal militia and the public safety militia in order to identify youth groups with extremist tendencies and persons who instigate minors to engage in extremist activities

Provision of information in the mass media about progress in and the results of implementing measures to counter extremist activities

As a result of the conduct of joint preventive measures with the Administration of the Federal Security Service for Krasnodar territory, in March 2007 four individuals were arrested in the town of Armavir for distributing printed materials containing calls for the incitement of inter-ethnic discord.

In 2006 and 2007, members of the Administration for Combating Organized Crime of the central internal affairs department for Krasnodar territory conducted test purchases of printed and video materials at the Krasnodar market. It was discovered that books, magazines and disks containing extremist materials were being sold. Criminal proceedings were instituted under article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

In March 2007, on the basis of materials submitted by the Administration for Combating Organized Crime of the central internal affairs department for Krasnodar territory, criminal proceedings were instituted under article 282, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Code against V.P. Shcherbin, who is the author of the poem Progonite zhida (Kick Out the Yid), which was intended to incite ethnic hatred or enmity.

8.The procedure for registering citizens of the Russian Federation by place of temporary residence and place of residence is established by Act No. 5242-1 of 25 June 1993 on the right of citizens of the Russian Federation to freedom of movement, choice of a place of temporary residence and place of residence in the Russian Federation, and by the regulations approved by Government Decision No. 713 of 17 July 1995, which are equally applicable throughout the territory of the Russian Federation, irrespective of citizens’ ethnic origin.

In 2006, procuratorial bodies of the Russian Federation discovered violations of the rights of citizens of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the course of the performance by internal affairs offices of the Russian Federation of their duties to ensure law and order.

In particular, when monitoring compliance with registration regulations, militia officers did not always observe the principle of the equality of the rights and freedoms of individuals and citizens, irrespective of ethnicity, origin or place of residence, which is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

In this connection, on 13 December 2006 the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation sent to all procurators of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation the instruction on the strengthening of procuratorial supervision of internal affairs offices’ observance of civil rights and freedoms.

9.According to data provided by the Administration of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation for Moscow province, during the period from 2006 to the present, four foreign citizens who arrived at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo-2 international airport applied for asylum in the Russian Federation.

The application of each of those foreign citizens was received by employees of the Administration of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation for Moscow province and was considered in accordance with Russian legislation on refugees.

1.Mr. Kefelen Eshetu Alemu, a citizen of Ethiopia, filed an application for refugee status on 2 July 2006. Based on the results of a preliminary examination of the request, on 6 July 2006 the authorities decided not to consider the request on the merits. Mr. Eshetu was resettled in a third State with the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

2.Mr. Edwin Gatimu Munge, a citizen of Kenya, filed an application for refugee status on 4 August 2006. Based on the results of a preliminary examination of the request, on 8 August 2006 the authorities decided not to consider the request on the merits. Mr. Gatimu returned of his own accord to the country of which he is a citizen.

3.Ms. Valea Elizabeth Mbongo, a citizen of Nigeria, filed an application for refugee status on 9 November 2007. By a decision of 6 February 2008, she was refused refugee status. She was resettled in a third State with the assistance of UNHCR.

4.Mr. Luis Rodríguez Sotolongo Jorgia, a citizen of Cuba, filed an application for refugee status on 24 April 2008. By a decision of 12 May 2008, he was refused refugee status. He is currently in a transit zone.

The time limit for considering applications on the merits is six months. The Russian Federal Migration Service does not have any information about cases involving the deportation at Sheremetyevo-2 airport of passengers whose documents were not in order and who allegedly did not have an opportunity to apply for asylum.

10.Bearing in mind the low number of small indigenous peoples (which does not give them an opportunity to be elected to representative bodies in accordance with the usual procedure), their rights are guaranteed by Federal Act No. 21-FZ of 7 February 2003 on provisional measures to ensure the representation of small indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation in legislative (representative) government bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

In implementing this Federal Act, some constituent entities of the Russian Federation have introduced norms to guarantee the representation of indigenous peoples in regional elected government bodies. For example, in accordance with the charter of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, one of the deputy governors of the Area is a representative of the small indigenous peoples of the North, and a special government unit consisting of representatives of indigenous peoples has been set up to deal with problems faced by those peoples. A similar system of government for small indigenous peoples is in operation in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Area, the Nenets Autonomous Area and other northern entities of the Russian Federation. Forty-four representatives of small indigenous peoples, including 3 Evenks, 1 Udege, 6 Evens, 1 Negidal and 27 Ulchis work in the government bodies of Khabarovsk territory.

A number of entities of the Russian Federation are implementing measures to broaden the right of indigenous peoples to participate in the social and political life of the region. In accordance with the law of Khabarovsk territory, authorized representatives of indigenous peoples have been elected in 81 communities, and councils of authorized representatives have been created under the authority of the governor and the heads of the 15 districts of the territory.

In Krasnoyarsk territory, positions of authority are held by representatives of such ethnic minorities as Belarusians (for example, the mayor of Krasnoyarsk), Lithuanians (the mayor of Igark), Tatars, Estonians, Germans (heads of local government bodies and specialists in government bodies at various levels).

In addition to the direct participation of representatives of ethnic minorities in government bodies, non-governmental ethnic organizations are actively used in the Russian Federation in administrative activities at various levels of government. Coordinating bodies are created for this purpose; such bodies participate in the development of a strategy and specific projects to implement State ethnic policy in the constituent entities and communities of the Russian Federation. Such bodies, which have different names (public chambers, advisory councils, coordinating councils) have been created in Bryansk, Volgograd, Kaliningrad, Kamchatka, Magadan, Rostov, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Tambov, Tver, Tula, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk and Yaroslavl provinces, in Primorsky territory, the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, the Republic of Tyva, the Republic of Khakassia, the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Territory and other constituent entities of the Russian Federation. In 2001, the Inter-Ethnic Advisory Council was established under the authority of the Moscow city government; the Council includes representatives of 62 ethnic voluntary associations.

At the federal level, this function is performed by ethnic and cultural autonomous organizations (18 at the federal level, 173 at the regional level and 315 at the local level) and ethnic voluntary organizations, which actively cooperate with committees of the State Duma, with ministries and with federal agencies and services.

With the help of deliberative bodies and direct participation in administration, the needs of ethnic minorities are taken into account in the formulation of the Russian Federation’s State ethnic policy, the creation of federal programmes for the development of ethnic cultures and the holding of major events; such needs are also reflected in the State budget.

11.Russian citizenship may be acquired under a general and a simplified procedure.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who have reached the age of 18 and who have dispositive capacity are entitled to apply for Russian citizenship if:

At least one of their parents is a citizen of the Russian Federation and resides in the territory of the Russian Federation

They are former citizens of the Soviet Union and lived or continue to live in States that were part of the Soviet Union, and have not acquired citizenship of those States and remain stateless as a result

They are citizens of the States that were part of the Soviet Union who received specialized secondary or higher education in educational establishments of the Russian Federation after 1 July 2002

In addition, foreign citizens and stateless persons living in the territory of the Russian Federation are entitled to apply for citizenship under the simplified procedure if:

They were born in the territory of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and possessed Soviet citizenship

They have been married to a citizen of the Russian Federation for at least three years

They are disabled persons who have an able-bodied son or daughter who has reached the age of 18 and who is a citizen of the Russian Federation

Disabled foreign citizens and stateless persons who arrived in the Russian Federation from States that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, and who were registered by place of residence in the Russian Federation as at 1 July 2002, are entitled to apply for citizenship under the simplified procedure without the need to fulfil the condition of length of residence in the territory of the Russian Federation or to present a residence permit.

Foreign citizens and stateless persons who were citizens of the Soviet Union and who arrived in the Russian Federation from States that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, and who were registered by place of residence in the Russian Federation as at 1 July 2002, or who have received temporary or permanent residence permits, are granted citizenship under the simplified procedure if, prior to 1 January 2009, they express their wish to become citizens of the Russian Federation.

Veterans of the Second World War who were citizens of the former Soviet Union and who live in the territory of the Russian Federation are granted citizenship under the simplified procedure and do not need to present a residence permit.

The simplified procedure also applies to:

A child one of whose parents is a citizen of the Russian Federation, when that parent makes the application with the consent of the other parent. Such consent is not necessary if the child resides in the territory of the Russian Federation.

A child whose only parent resides in the territory of the Russian Federation, when that parent makes the application.

A child or person lacking dispositive capacity and who is under tutorship or guardianship.

The application of a tutor or guardian who has Russian citizenship.

In accordance with article 4 of Federal Act No. 62-FZ of 31 May 2002 on citizenship of the Russian Federation, the principles of citizenship of the Russian Federation and the regulations governing matters relating to citizenship of the Russian Federation may not contain provisions that restrict the rights of citizens on social, racial, ethnic, linguistic or religious grounds.

In this connection, persons of the enumerated ethnic groups are not subject to any discrimination when citizenship matters are considered.

With regard to the granting of citizenship of the Russian Federation to citizens of the former Soviet Union who are not registered, we wish to state the following.

According to the provisions of article 13, paragraph 1, of Federal Act No. 1948-1 of 28 November 1991 on citizenship of the Russian Federation - the act is no longer in force - all citizens of the former Soviet Union who were permanent members of the Russian Federation on the day on which Federal Act No. 1948-1 entered into force (6 February 1992) are granted citizenship of the Russian Federation provided that, within one year following the entry into force of the Federal Act, they do not express their wish not to be citizens of the Russian Federation.

According to article 4, paragraph 7, of Federal Act No. 62-FZ of 31 May 2002, which entered into force on 1 July 2002, a person’s citizenship of the Russian Federation is determined on the basis of the legislative acts of the Russian Federation or of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, which were in force at the time of the onset of the circumstances with which the person’s citizenship is related. This norm makes it possible to continue to apply the provisions of article 13, paragraph 1, of the aforementioned Act.

In this connection, persons who are not registered in the territory of the Russian Federation may be recognized as Russian citizens if they can confirm that they were permanent residents of the Russian Federation as at 6 February 1992.

Permanent residence in the territory of the Russian Federation may be determined by the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation on the basis of paragraphs 15 to 15.13 of the administrative regulation on the Federal Migration Service’s performance of the State function of implementing legislation on citizenship of the Russian Federation, which was approved by Federal Migration Service Order No. 64 of 19 March 2008, and, if this is not possible, in accordance with article 264 of Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation and following the relevant judicial procedure.

When permanent residence has been established, the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation is issued in accordance with the procedure for issuing passports to all other citizens of the Russian Federation, without additional formalities.

12.In the Russian Federation, the right of indigenous peoples to access to aquatic bioresources is guaranteed by Federal Act No. 166-FZ of 20 December 2004 on fishing and the preservation of biological water resources.

In accordance with the Federal Act, legislation on fishing and the preservation of aquatic bioresources is based on the principle of the interests of populations whose livelihood depends on fishing; such populations include the small indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East. According to this principle, small indigenous peoples must be guaranteed access to aquatic bioresources that are used for fishing, in order to ensure their livelihood.

In accordance with article 25 of the Federal Act, fishing for the purpose of ensuring a traditional way of life and carrying out the traditional economic activities of small indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East is practised by persons who are members of such peoples and by their communities, with or without the granting of fishing grounds. Fishing for the purpose of ensuring a traditional way of life and carrying out the traditional economic activities of small indigenous peoples without the granting of fishing grounds is carried out without permission to harvest (fish in) aquatic bioresources, with the exception of the harvesting (fishing) of rare and endangered species of aquatic bioresources.

Quotas on the harvesting (fishing) of rare and endangered species of bioresources are regulated by the authorized agency in accordance with the changes in the populations of these species of aquatic resources.

In this connection, there is no need to duplicate these provisions in the acts on the continental shelf of the Russian Federation and on the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation.

13.In accordance with the decisions of the working group on the preparation of proposals to improve the legal protection of the rights of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East, established pursuant to Protocol No. 3 of 29 February 2008 of the national steering committee on the preparation and implementation of the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation drafted proposals on the introduction of amendments and additions to existing federal acts relating to the protection of the rights of small indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East, with a view to speeding up the process of creating territories for the traditional use of natural resources.

Thus, in accordance with the draft amendments to Federal Act No. 49-FZ of 7 May 2001 on territories for the traditional use of natural resources of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Russian Far East, relating to State administration and monitoring of the organization and functioning of territories for the traditional use of natural resources, it will be established that territories for the traditional use of natural resources will be created by the federal government body competent for the protection of the rights of small indigenous peoples. The relevant ministry for each territory for the traditional use of natural resources will establish separate regulations. The consolidation of this norm will make it possible to begin creating, in the near future, territories for the traditional use of natural resources at the federal level.

14.The Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation has no information on alleged discrimination against Chechens and Roma in the areas of employment and housing or in the provision of health services and social protection.

15.Article 2 of the Labour Code of the Russian Federation sets out the main principles for the legal regulation of labour relations and other relations that are directly linked with them, such as the prohibition of forced labour and labour discrimination, and equal opportunities for workers to be promoted, without any discrimination, taking account of their productivity, qualifications and length of service in their speciality, and also their professional preparation and further training.

Article 3 of the Labour Code establishes equal opportunities for all workers to exercise their labour rights. No one may be restricted in his or her labour rights or freedoms or receive any advantages, irrespective of sex, race, skin colour, ethnicity, language, origin, property, family or social status, occupation, age, place of residence, attitude to religion, political beliefs, membership of voluntary organizations, and also other circumstances unrelated to the skills of employees.

Article 132 of the Labour Code prohibits all discrimination in establishing and changing the conditions for remuneration for labour. The salary of each worker depends on his or her qualifications, the difficulty of the work performed and the quantity and quality of labour expended, and is not restricted to a maximum amount.

Persons who consider that they have been subjected to discrimination in the area of employment are entitled to apply to the courts for the restoration of their violated rights, reparation of material damage and compensation for moral damage.

16.The Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation, together with the Government of the Chechen Republic has carried out a great deal of work in the context of implementing Presidential Instruction No. Pr-1277 of 11 July 2001 on the creation of conditions for the return of Russian citizens who were forced to leave the Chechen Republic during the settlement of the crisis (hereinafter referred to as “displaced persons”) to their former places of residence.

Combined efforts have made it possible to close all tent cities in the Republic of Ingushetia and to facilitate the return of over 300,000 persons to their former places of residence (including 22,033 persons in 2002, 17,848 in 2003, 33,372 in 2004, 136,933 in 2005, 17,263 in 2006 and 62,623 in 2007).

In addition, the Federal Migration Service, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Chechen Republic, has carried out work to implement Presidential Instruction No. Pr-810 of 17 May 2004 on the creation of conditions for the return of Russian citizens who were forced to leave their places of permanent residence in the Chechen Republic and who are living in Georgia. Through joint efforts, the voluntary return of 324 persons to their homeland was organized.

Measures to return internally displaced persons and refugees to the Chechen Republic were implemented on an exclusively voluntary basis, in coordination with UNHCR. The main efforts were directed towards providing economic incentives, social assistance and housing for returnees. To this end, an effective system of State support has been established.

Returning inhabitants of the Chechen Republic receive assistance for travel and the transport of their baggage. In order to settle them in the Republic, the federal budget was used to finance the refurbishment of 32 dormitories, which serve as temporary housing. All dormitories are equipped with electricity and gas, transported water, and heating systems.

As of November 2007, in accordance with Order No. 181-r of the Government of the Chechen Republic of 21 April 2006, as well as its order of 17 October 2007, the buildings and premises of the temporary housing areas were transferred to the Government of the Chechen Republic, and, on the basis of their applications, internally displaced persons were removed by the interdepartmental commission from the registry of the Administration of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation for the Chechen Republic.

The Government of the Chechen Republic has assumed the obligation to support this category of inhabitants of the Chechen Republic, including the obligation to provide them with permanent accommodations.

The housing of inhabitants remains a problem, and some inhabitants are still living in temporary accommodations. Efforts are continuing to resettle persons living in dormitories. Such persons receive State support in the form of permanent alternative accommodations, parcels of land and payment of compensation for lost accommodations and property. The forcible eviction of inhabitants, without providing them with other decent living accommodations, is prohibited.

At the same time, in the Chechen Republic, in the context of implementing the special federal programme to restore the economy and social sphere of the Chechen Republic, federal budget allocations are being used to refurbish accommodations, social facilities and institutions. Government bodies, the courts, general-education schools and higher educational establishments, health and social facilities and non-governmental organizations are in operation in the Chechen Republic.

According to Government Decision No. 404 of 4 July 2003, compensation is paid for lost housing and property (monetary compensation in the amount of 4,028,000,255 roubles has been transferred to the accounts of 37,935 families).

At present, internally displaced persons - over 3,700 persons (mainly ethnic Ingush) - remain only in the Republic of Ingushetia. The Russian Federal Migration Service is fulfilling its obligation under Government Decision No. 163 of 3 March 2001 to assist these citizens.

According to information from local branches of the Russian Federal Migration Service, up to 178,000 citizens (more than 72,000 families) left the Chechen Republic and have been recognized as forcibly displaced persons under the Forcibly Displaced Persons Act.

Of that number, the following persons were recognized as forcibly displaced:

Southern federal district - 125,900 persons (49,600 families) - 70.9 per cent

Central federal district - 26,200 persons (11,300 families) - 4.8 per cent

Privolzhsky federal district - 11,200 persons (4,900 families) - 6.3 per cent

North-Western federal district - 8,500 persons (3,800 families) - 4.8 per cent

Ural federal district - 3,000 persons (1,300 families) - 1.7 per cent

Siberian federal district - 2,100 persons (900 families) - 1.1 per cent

Far Eastern federal district - 700 persons (300 families) - 0.4 per cent

The largest number of citizens who were recognized as forcibly displaced persons came from Stavropol territory - 51,600 persons (22,600 families) - 29.0 per cent; Krasnodar territory - 22,200 persons (9,200 families) - 12.5 per cent; the Republic of Ingushetia - 16,100 persons (2,900 families) - 9.1 per cent; and Rostov province - 13,200 persons (6,100 families) - 7.4 per cent.

When the status of forcibly displaced person is conferred, the question of ethnic origin is not considered.

According to official data supplied by the local branches of the Russian Federal Migration Service, as at 1 April 2008, 9,000 forcibly displaced persons who had left the Chechen Republic - including over 5,000 living in the Republic of Ingushetia - had been registered in the territory of the Russian Federation.

An important social task for the Russian Federation is to provide housing for forcibly displaced persons.

State assistance to forcibly displaced persons in the area of housing is provided under the subprogramme entitled “Implementation of State obligations to provide housing for categories of citizens established by federal legislation” of the special federal programme entitled “Housing” for 2002-2010, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation.

As long as the status of forcibly displaced person remains in effect, the local branches of the Federal Migration Service provide State support in finding housing for the overwhelming majority of this category of forcibly displaced persons.

In 2007, 1,287 State housing certificates were issued for this purpose; this is clearly insufficient for solving the housing problems of forcibly displaced persons - including forcibly displaced persons living in the Republic of Ingushetia - in the foreseeable future.

In the light of this situation, in 2007 the relevant federal government bodies discussed ways of solving this problem within the framework of implementing the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation on the development of a single mechanism to provide housing for citizens who have lost their homes as a result of the crisis in the Chechen Republic, as well as forcibly displaced persons coming from republics of the former Soviet Union.On the basis of work conducted by the Ministry of Regional Development together with the Russian Federal Migration Service, the necessary draft regulations and the relevant technical and economic feasibility study were prepared.

In the near future, the proposals will be considered by the Government Commission for Budget Planning for the forthcoming fiscal year and planning period. The results of the consideration of the proposals will be used to determine the level of financing and the time limits for allocating funds for these purposes.

In developing a unified mechanism to provide housing for citizens who lost their homes as a result of the crisis in the Chechen Republic, and for forcibly displaced persons coming from republics of the former Soviet Union, account has been taken of the forcibly displaced persons and internally displaced persons from the Chechen Republic who intend to continue residing in the Republic of Ingushetia.

The adoption of a positive decision will make it possible to speed up considerably the solution of the problem of settling forcibly displaced persons, including forcibly displaced persons residing in the territory of the Republic of Ingushetia.

17.In 2004 and 2005, the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation conducted an investigation into information concerning violations of human and civil rights, contained in the report on violations of the rights of Gypsies-Roma in the Russian Federation, prepared by the non-governmental organization European Roma Rights Centre.

When investigated, most of the violations were not objectively confirmed. When violations of the law were found, procuratorial measures were taken to address them.

Work is being conducted with government bodies at the regional and local levels and with Roma communities with a view to preventing and settling conflict situations that arise when Roma buildings are demolished. There are various reasons for the incidents that occurred, but the demolition of houses, mainly at the decision of the judicial authorities, is not the consequence of an organized operation or action by law enforcement agencies.

One of the most high-profile events occurred in the settlement of Dorozhny in Guryevsk district of Kaliningrad region.

According to information from the Government of Kaliningrad province, Dorozhny was described by law enforcement agencies as a place where narcotic and psychotropic substances were sold, where there was a high concentration of drug-dependent persons and where most of the inhabitants of the settlement engaged in the unlawful activity of buying and selling stolen property and trafficking in narcotics. According to information from the Administration of the Federal Service for Drug Trafficking Control for Kaliningrad province, in 2005 alone 158 incidents involving criminal activity in the area of illicit drug trafficking were identified; criminal proceedings were instituted in connection with 125 of those incidents. In all, 61 persons were prosecuted.

With regard to the buildings that were demolished in the settlement, according to information from the Minister of Housing, Public Utilities and Construction of Kaliningrad province, of the 46 buildings only 1 had been built in accordance with the law and had the status of a dwelling; the rest were erected on parcels of land without official permission. Moreover, beginning in November 2005, the Guryevsk district court considered claims submitted to the Guryevsk district administration concerning 68 unlawfully erected buildings. During the period from November 2005 through June 2006, the court, having examined all the claims, decided to demolish the buildings. Since not one of those decisions was appealed, all the decisions entered into force.

In order to resettle the persons who were unlawfully residing in the territory of Dorozhny settlement in Guryevsk district, in accordance with Kaliningrad Provincial Government Decision No. 288 of 28 April 2006 on allocation of monetary resources, more than 5.7 million roubles were allocated to create a special housing fund in five municipalities of the province. However, the persons without a permanent place of residence and who formerly lived in Doroozhny ignored all proposals to resettle them in other municipalities of the province.

Another well-known case, which is often cited by human rights organizations, is the demolition in Arkhangelsk in August 2004, in the Varavino-Faktoria area of the city, of 17 temporary buildings for Roma families who had moved there from Volgograd province. In accordance with the decisions of the Lomonosov court in Arkangelsk, the buildings were declared to be unauthorized and subject to demolition.

With the assistance of the office of the mayor of Arkhangelsk, the persons leaving the city were offered a bus to take them to the railway station, their railway tickets were paid for, and nine motor vehicles were made available to transport baggage. Food for the journey and money in the amount of 250,000 roubles were made available for the resettlement of the aforementioned persons. In addition, the materials from the dismantling of the unauthorized buildings were sold and the proceeds from their sale were given to the Roma community. In July 2006, the representatives of the Roma community left Arkhangelsk for Volgograd province.

In connection with demolition of Roma houses in the spring of 2007 in the town of Chudovo in Novgorod province, the relevant investigations were conducted. The Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation, the Federal Service for Drug Trafficking Control for Novgorod province, in cooperation with the Federal Ethnocultural Autonomy of Russian Roma, discussed questions relating to the situation of the Roma in Chudovo, as well as means of resolving the situation that had arisen. The Novgorod provincial administration constantly monitors the situation of the Roma in the province. Work has begun on a general plan to develop an area where the Roma community can live. In accordance with the requirements of legislation, 35 per cent of the buildings are subject to demolition, 30 per cent must be reconstructed to meet fire-prevention, environmental and epidemiological standards, and the relevant registration documents are being issued for the remaining 35 per cent of the buildings.

18.On the whole, the legislation of the Russian Federation is consistent with the norms and principles of international law (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, art. 5; Protocol 1 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, art. 2). In accordance with Russian legislation, the rights and freedoms of citizens may not be restricted on the basis of registration (or lack of registration) at a place of residence. Article 43 of the Russian Constitution proclaims the right of everyone to education. Article 5 of the Education Act guarantees the right of everyone to education, irrespective of ethnicity or place of residence.

In connection with earlier communications to the European Court of Human Rights relating to violations of children’s rights to education in the Russian Federation, the Federal Service for the Supervision of Education sent instructions to all constituent entities of the Russian Federation concerning the inadmissibility of infringing the right of children to an education and of refusing to enrol children in an educational institution on the basis of their parents’ registration (or lack of registration) at a place of residence (Letter No. 01-678/07-01 of 24 July 2006 of the Federal Service for the Supervision of Education). In connection with additional communications from constituent entities of the Russian Federation concerning this question, the Department for State Policy and Laws and Regulations in the Field of Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation provided detailed clarifications in its Letter No. 03-159 of 4 February 2008.

19.One of the most important tasks of the educational system is to integrate students into ethnic and world culture. In the Russian Federation, within the framework of the unified educational system, a network of general-education institutions with an ethnocultural component has been established and has been operating for about 15 years. The task of this network is to solve problems relating to the observance of the rights of parents and children (including the children of migrants), as subjects of the educational system, to an education that takes account of their ethnocultural needs.

In the Russian Federation, 18 per cent of all students are currently being educated in schools that have an ethnocultural component; this is more or less in proportion to the country’s Russian and non-Russian population. The profound demographic changes that have taken place in recent years and the processes of ethnocultural identification in new social and political conditions have led to the need to create, in a number of regions, and also in the megalopolises, schools with such ethnocultural components, including Korean, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Jewish, Georgian, Armenian, Azerbaijani and Roma. All such schools operate as ordinary mainstream schools and are open to children of any ethnic group.

In addition, with a view to promoting social adaptation in a number of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, conditions have been created to teach Russian to children of migrants, refugees, forcibly displaced persons (Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Assyrians, Adygeis, Abkhaz, Avars, Arabs, Afghans, Belarusians, Burds, Vietnamese, Georgians, Greeks, Dagestanis, Yezdi, Ingush, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Kurds, Kumyks, Koreans, Lezgins, Libyans, Moldovans, Mongols, Germans, Ossetians, Rutuls, Tabasaran, Tajiks, Tatars, Turks, Meskhetian Turks, Turkmens, Udis, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Khemshili Armenians, Roma, Circassians, Chechens, Estonians and Yugoslavs). This information is considered and analysed in detail by the Interdepartmental Commission on the Russian Language, established by Order No. 124 of 2 December 2004 of the Ministry of Education and Science under the authority of the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

With regard to the part of the question relating to the practice of sending children belonging to ethnic minorities to special classes with low educational standards, we should like to inform you that the State standard for general education, approved by Ministry of Education and Science, Order No. 1089 of 5 March 2004, is currently in force in the Russian Federation. There are no other standards. The development of a new generation of standards is currently in the planning stage. In the development of new State standards for general education, priority is being given to provisions that strengthen the educational potential and social and humanitarian orientation of education, which promote the development of moral potential, confirm the values of civil society and foster the personal development and social adaptation of students.

At the same time, in accordance with Government Decision No. 196 of 19 March 2001, which approved the model regulation on general-education institutions, in such institutions, compensatory classes may be organized with the agreement of the director and with due respect for the interests of parents or legal representatives. In addition, government bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation engaged in administration in the field of education may, with the agreement of the director, open special (remedial) classes in general-education institutions for students with development problems. The transfer (assignment) of students to special (remedial) classes is carried out by educational bodies only with the consent of the students’ parents or legal representatives and on the basis of the conclusions of a commission consisting of psychologists, health-care professionals and teachers.

20.During the implementation of activities under the State ethnic policy funds have been allocated from the 2008 federal budget for the following:

Project to prepare and publish dictionaries (including electronic dictionaries) in the languages of small indigenous peoples of the North (Nenets-Russian, Russian-Nenets; Selkup-Russian, Russian-Selkup) - 1.3 million roubles

Project to prepare and broadcast on federal television stations a series of 20 programmes on the peoples of the Russian Federation - 6.6 million roubles

Project to organize and hold a national competition among the media for the best coverage of the subject of inter-ethnic relations of the peoples of the Russian Federation and their ethnocultural development (there will be a separate nomination for media in the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation) - 4.5 million roubles

Project to develop and approve an educational and methodological course for secondary school students, entitled “Tolerance and the culture in inter-ethnic relations” - 3.5 million roubles

An international youth forum on intercultural and interfaith dialogue (in the context of the European “All Different - All Equal” campaign, together with the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation) - 4 million roubles

Project to support the holding of an international seminar entitled “International norms and the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of preserving the languages and cultures, traditional lifestyles and natural resources management of indigenous peoples: Norms. Theory. Practice” - 300,000 roubles

During the period 2008-2011, a total of 240 million roubles will be allocated from the federal budget for the purpose of implementing the Russian Federation’s ethnic policy.

Every year, the Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency provides, on a competitive basis, State support in the form of subsidies from the federal budget for the implementation of socially significant projects in the field of electronic and print media. The topic of shaping a tolerant attitude, preventing extremism and preserving and developing the spiritual culture of the peoples of the Russian Federation is one of the priorities for the provision of financial support.

During the period 2004-2008, more than 153 million roubles were allocated to the electronic mass media for these purposes.

Among the projects that receive State subsidies, mention can be made of the information and educational programme Narody Rossii (Peoples of Russia), which has been broadcast by Radio Russia since 2001. The programme is devoted to the Russian Federation’s ethnic diversity and promotes inter-ethnic cooperation. Ethnic issues are covered from the point of view of representatives of ethnocultural autonomies, ethnographers, historians, specialists in ethnic conflicts, sociologists, culturologists and art critics.

The Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency provides financial support for the films “Provincial museums of Russia” (broadcast on the Kultura television station), which devote particular attention to museums that promote ethnic culture. Series of television documentaries are being prepared: “Geographic video encyclopaedia” - this series reveals the multidimensional aspects of the cultures of the peoples of the Russian Federation; “The humanity of others ...” consists of films about the Russian Federation’s small indigenous peoples, their return to their roots and so forth.

The Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency allocates funds for the production of animated informational and educational video clips about the regions and peoples of the Russian Federation: “We live in Russia” (broadcast on Pervy kanal).

Projects supported by the Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency include programmes in the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation: in Chuvash - Solnechny  zaichik (Patch of sun), Vspomni, soldat! (Remember, soldier!), broadcast by Chuvashia State television and radio corporation, and Kucha mala! (Free-for-all), broadcast on Kanal 5 plyus; in Evenk - Ulgur, broadcast by the Buryatia State television and radio corporation. In 2004-2007, some 4.4 million roubles were allocated for the production of such programmes.

State subsidies have been allocated for the production of the television programme Dagestansky fenomen (The Dagestan phenomenon), which acquaints viewers with surprising facts about the linguistic and cultural life of the inhabitants of Dagestan, which is home to over 33 ethnic groups that speak different languages; and the television programme Zolotoe nasledie (Golden heritage), which is devoted to Bashkir folk songs and historical facts and personalities.

The Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency has supported the creation and operation of Internet resources (sites and portals): Narody Rossii: edinstvo i mnogoobrazie (Peoples of Russia: unity and diversity), which provides historical and ethnographic information on all the peoples and ethnic groups of the Russian Federation, as well as information on State policy in the area of inter-ethnic and interfaith relations; Sootechestvenniki (Compatriots), which promotes the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic countries, inter-ethnic relations, the solution of problems of fellow countrymen living abroad and of settlers in the Russian Federation (provision of legal and informational support); Vmeste (Together), which provides information about the problems of the Russian Federation and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and discusses factors that have a positive influence on inter-State and inter-ethnic relations; the task of Antirasizm.ru and Etno-zhurnal is to strengthen inter-ethnic relations, promote tolerance and popularize the cultural diversity of the Russian Federation and the world.

Subsidies are being allocated to develop the information portal Religia i SMI (Religion and the media), whose pages deal with the history and contemporary status of religion in the Russian Federation and the world, relations between the State and the various religious denominations, topical questions of religious science, and the coverage of religious topics in the media.

The Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency provides financial support for the Edinenie (Unity) national competition of television films and programmes devoted to efforts to combat extremism, xenophobia and racial and religious hatred. In 2007, 0.5 million roubles were allocated from the federal budget to hold the competition.

Financial support is given to periodical printed publications that devote a great deal of attention to the prevention of extremism and the promotion of cultural and linguistic pluralism.

In 2007, 33 press organizations that carry out socially important projects to promote cultural and linguistic pluralism received State subsidies totalling more than 13.8 million roubles; 23 of those organizations implementing socially important projects in minority languages received some 6.4 million roubles.

During the first half of 2008, 15 press organizations carrying out projects in the aforementioned area received State subsidies totalling more than 8.4 million roubles; 4 of those organizations implementing socially important projects in minority languages received some 1.2 million roubles.

Among them were the magazines Voprosy istorii (Questions of History), based in Moscow (project entitled “The preservation of cultural traditions and spiritual values is an important condition for the successful development of the new Russia”), Nash sovremennik (Our Contemporary), based in Moscow (project entitled “The Russian world unites the peoples of Russia”), Literaturnaya gazeta (Literary Gazette), based in Moscow (project entitled “Russia’s multilingual lyre”); the magazine Leg ’ ulyk ’ u (“Rainbow” in Circassian), based in Cherkessk (project entitled “Friendship with Russia - forever!”); the newspaper Syldyschygash (“Little Star” in the Tuvan language), based in Kyzyl (project entitled “The language of friendship”); and the newspaper Kodima (in the Vep and Finnish languages), based in Petrozavodsk (project entitled “Rus and Ves - two sisters”).

In 2007, the Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency allocated State subsidies amounting to more than 5.5 million roubles to 22 press organizations carrying out projects related to the topic “Protection of the legitimate rights of citizens of the Russian Federation and ensuring the effectiveness of constitutional guarantees for their implementation, and combating terrorism, extremism, nationalism, racial and religious intolerance, crime, corruption and acquisitiveness in the country.”

During the first half of 2008, five press organizations received State support amounting to more than 1.4 million roubles to carry out socially important projects relating to the aforementioned topic.

These include Moy dnevnik (My diary) and Starshy brat (Elder brother), based in Stavropol (project entitled “Youth against extremism”), and Zvezda (Star), based in Saint Petersburg (project entitled “Inter-ethnic and interfaith relations in Russia and the fight against extremism in the process of creating a democratic State based on the rule of law, and a civil society”).

21.In efforts to prevent and solve crimes and to prosecute the perpetrators, it is important to establish the real motives for the crimes. In this connection, when involved in criminal proceedings, the units for combating organized crime of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs carry out a range of measures to elucidate all the circumstances of the crime. As a result of an analysis of the evidence collected, investigative bodies often decide to reclassify the criminal proceedings.

Thus, on 7 August 2007, the Ekaterinburg procurator’s office, on the basis of information from members of the Administration for Combating Organized Crime of the central internal affairs department for Sverdlovsk province, instituted criminal proceedings under article 111, paragraph 4 (Deliberate infliction of serious harm, leading to the death of the victim by negligence), of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against members of a skinhead movement; the criminal case was later reclassified under article 105, paragraph 2 (k), (g) and (e) (Murder committed with particular cruelty by a group of persons by prior conspiracy on the grounds of political, ideological, racial, ethnic or religious enmity).

On 22 January 2008, the investigative office of the internal affairs administration for the north-eastern administrative district of the Moscow city internal affairs authority instituted criminal proceedings under article 213, paragraph 2 (Hooliganism committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy or by an organized group or involving resistance to a representative of authority or any other person protecting the public order), of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in connection with acts of hooliganism on Moscow’s Yaroslavky highway. As a result of investigative and operational measures, in April 2008 this offence was reclassified under article 213, paragraph 1 (b) (Hooliganism committed on the grounds of political, ideological, racial, ethnic or religious enmity), of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

In 2006 and 2007, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation took measures to identify individuals who are members of ethnic criminal groups and who commit offences. In their conduct of preventive measures, militia officers were informed on a daily basis about offences that had been committed, the persons sought and missing property, and official training was provided in order to ensure that militia officers comply with the law in the performance of their duties.

These measures yielded positive results and helped to reduce the crime rate.

Militia officers investigated each communication from citizens addressed to law enforcement agencies concerning violations of their legitimate rights, and took the relevant measures.

22.The institution of the Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Commission on Human Rights (now the Presidential Council for Promoting the Development of Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights) supplement existing means of protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms. The task of these bodies is to monitor the observance of the human and civil rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the law and other regulations. One of the main means of carrying out these monitoring functions is the consideration of complaints from citizens of the Russian Federation, and from foreigners and stateless persons in the territory of the Russian Federation, against decisions or actions (inaction) of State bodies, local administrations, officials and public servants, in cases where the complainant appealed against these decisions or actions (inaction) at an earlier time in accordance with judicial or administrative procedure but does not agree with the decisions taken on his or her complaint.

Most often, the Human Rights Commissioner receives complaints containing a request to protect the civil (individual) and social rights. A considerable number of communications and complaints from citizens deal with the protection of economic rights. The least number of communications and complaints concern violations of cultural rights.

During the reporting period, neither the Human Rights Commissioner nor the Presidential Council for Promoting the Development of Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights received any communications or complaints concerning violations of rights on racial grounds.

23.Russian legislation provides for full compensation for material damage caused by an offence, as well as compensation for moral damage, in accordance with the provisions of article 151 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

Thus, in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned article, when moral damage (physical or psychological suffering) is inflicted on a citizen by acts that violate his or her personal non-property rights or infringe on other non-material benefits belonging to the citizen, as well as in other cases provided for by law, the court may make the perpetrator liable for monetary compensation for such damage. In determining the amount of compensation for moral damage, the court takes into consideration the degree of guilt of the perpetrator and other circumstances that deserve attention, and also takes account of the physical and psychological suffering related to the individual characteristics of the person who sustained the damage.

In accordance with article 1069 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, damage caused to a citizen or corporate body as a result of unlawful actions (inaction) on the part of State bodies, local administrations or officials of these bodies, including as a result of the issuing, contrary to the law or any other legal act, of an act of a State body or local administration, is subject to compensation. The damage is compensated from the treasury of the Russian Federation, the treasury of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation or the treasury of a municipal body, as appropriate.

The protection of the victim’s right to compensation for damage caused by an offence is also covered by the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation. Article 44 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for the possibility of submitting a claim for compensation of damage to property that was directly caused by an offence. A civil claim may also be brought for material compensation for moral damage following the institution of criminal proceedings and before the termination of the judicial inquiry when the criminal case is tried by a court of first instance.

24.The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation is carrying out a range of measures to ensure that, in their practical activities, internal affairs offices adhere to the requirements of international and national law and observe human and civil rights and freedoms. Measures are being taken to improve the multicultural education of internal affairs officers with a view to preventing the emergence, in official bodies, of manifestations of nationalism, xenophobia or political or religious extremism. Efforts are being made to improve knowledge of the law among staff, to teach staff how to conduct a dialogue with the various civil society institutions, and to ensure the strict observance, in official activities, of the rights of the person in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and international human rights standards.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has established close cooperation with the Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation, and also with directors of ministries of internal affairs, central internal affairs departments and internal affairs authorities with its representatives in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, on questions relating to the observance of human and civil rights by staff in the performance of their official activities. Conferences, seminars and round tables on the observance of human and civil rights and freedoms in the activities of the staff of internal affairs offices, together with representatives of civil society, scientists and cultural workers, are being organized and carried out.

In the system of public sector and State training of staff, the norms and principles of international and national law, the provisions of current legislation on the observance of human and civil rights and freedoms, and the most important ethical principles, rules and norms of behaviour are studied. Similar work is being carried out with students of educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

All communications concerning violations of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as manifestations of nationalism and xenophobia, are carefully considered, and appropriate measures are taken.

A set of placards entitled “Observance of human and civil rights in the activities of internal affairs bodies” has been issued for posting on the official premises of bodies, units and institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Cooperation has been established with regional human rights organizations. This work is being carried out in a particularly effective manner by the Moscow city internal affairs authority and the central internal affairs department for Nizhny Novgorod province.

The regular joint raids carried out by representatives of the staff inspectorate of the staff administration, members of the public relations department of the Moscow internal affairs authority and members of human rights organizations - the national movement “For Human Rights”, the Moscow Helsinki Group and the Committee for Human Rights - have become an effective way of identifying violations of legality in the official activities of militia employees. Human rights organizations have pointed out that the measures taken by directors of the Moscow city internal affairs authority to prevent violations of human and civil rights and freedoms by their staff have been constructive. On the basis of scientific and practical developments and publications by human rights organizations, the Omsk academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has prepared the “Militia officers’ guide to the observance and protection of citizens’ rights” and “Methodical instructions on the prevention of violations of citizens’ rights and legality in internal affairs bodies.”

At present, the experience of the Moscow internal affairs authority in cooperating with human rights organizations is being studied with a view to applying it to other regions of the country.

Cooperation has been established with representatives of traditional religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism) in order to make use of the spiritual, moral and cultural potential of denominations in the professional and multicultural training of staff.

Special attention is being given to the moral and psychological aspects of the official activities of the staff of the Temporary Operational Group of Offices and Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in the Northern Caucasus Region.

The professional and psychological training of staff for official missions to the Northern Caucasus Region includes the topic “Particularities of the national psychology of the peoples of the Northern Caucasus: Awareness of such particularities when communicating and interacting with the local population”.

All categories of staff undergo training in the national traditions, customs, predominant religions and the history of the region in which they have been assigned to carry out official activities.

Moreover, staff assigned to missions and commanders of temporary units are provided with the relevant instructions and informative literature.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is engaged in ongoing and consistent efforts to prevent racism and nationalism. An important part of such efforts is to ensure the security of information and to cooperate with diverse civil society institutions, including the media and non‑governmental organizations, with a view to promoting tolerance of different religious, ethnic and social groups of the population.

Cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Russian Orthodox Church and major Muslim, Jewish and other religious organizations makes it possible to draw on their potential to strengthen social stability, prevent extremism, reduce the crime rate in the country, and protect cultural, spiritual and moral heritage, historical traditions and public morals.

On the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, on 18 September 2007 a round table on the topic “Problems of cooperation between law enforcement bodies and civil society institutions in achieving tolerance and respect for the law and religion”, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the Office of the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation, civil society and human rights organizations and leaders of the main religious denominations. During the meeting, the most important questions of inter‑ethnic and interfaith relations in the Russian Federation were discussed.

Representatives of religious denominations are conducting awareness-raising campaigns among students at schools and other educational establishments with a view to preventing group violations of public order and acts of hooliganism and vandalism on the grounds of political, ideological, racial, ethnic or religious hatred, and encouraging respect for law and order.

In accordance with Presidential Instruction No. Pr-1564 of 26 September 2005, with the support of plenipotentiary representatives of the President of the Russian Federation, work has begun in federal districts to create a State system for preventing offences in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, cities, district and municipalities.

At present, the global information network Internet is being increasingly used as an instrument to incite inter-ethnic enmity. Monitoring of the Internet by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has revealed that hundreds of websites are being used by extremists and their associates. In this connection, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is continuing to focus on identifying and halting the use of the Internet for extremist purposes; positive practical results have already been achieved.

Thus, in 2007, as a result of a range of measures carried out by the Administration for Combating Organized Crime and the Office for Special Technical Measures under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Adygei Republic, the dissemination of extremist materials on the Internet was discovered and halted. In February 2008, the person who disseminated a video depicting the murders, on the grounds of ethnic enmity, of individuals from the Caucasus and Central Asia, was sentenced to deprivation of liberty.

In addition, in order to prevent the spread of extremist ideology, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation is pursuing its consistent efforts with the mass media. In March 2007, the newspaper Rossiya published an interview with Mr. S.M. Chenchik, head of the Department for Combating Organized Crime and Terrorism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation; the interview focused on the main areas and results of the counter-terrorist activities of the T Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In April 2007, central television stations covered operations in which members of the T Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Doshuev and Aziev, who participated in illegal armed groups.

In August 2007, the mass media covered the operation, conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and Interpol, involving the arrest of I. Klein, a citizen of Israel, at Domodedovo airport; Mr. Klein had committed a number of offences of a terrorist nature and had been the subject of an international search. Six items for central television news programmes were prepared, articles appeared in 4 printed publications and 12 Internet editions, and a documentary film was aired on the television channel REN-TV.

On 13 September 2007, a briefing was held on the topic “Activities of internal affairs bodies to solve abductions”, with the participation of Mr. T.Z. Imakov, department head of the T Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The briefing included videotape recordings of operations to free hostages in the territory of the Northern Caucasus Region. The briefing was covered on six central television stations, in two printed publications, by four information agencies, and in six Internet editions.

In the context of the Chestny detektiv (Honest detective) project (RTR television station), in 2007 two documentary films devoted to the efforts of internal affairs bodies to prevent abductions, including the abduction of minors, were prepared and shown.

In January 2008, the mass media covered operations carried out by officers of the T Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Karachai-Cherkes Republic to arrest Novikov, one of the leaders of the local jamaat (Islamist cell), in Moscow. Six items for central television news programmes were prepared, seven articles appeared in the printed media, and information was placed on news ribbons of five information agencies and on more than 40 Internet sites.

In February 2008, information on the conclusion of the trial by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan of leaders and members of Islamic Jamaat, which has been in operation since 2001, was placed on the Internet site of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The defendants were found guilty of committing a number of terrorist acts and were sentenced to long terms of deprivation of liberty.

25.For the Russian Federation, as for other European countries, the prevention of intolerance and manifestations of extremism is a pressing issue. Given the multi-ethnic and multidenominational structure of the Russian Federation, the greatest danger is posed by manifestations of extremism in the political, religious and other spheres of public life, which aim to incite inter-ethnic and interfaith discord.

In order to solve these problems, federal government agencies and government bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation have developed and coordinated a package of State measures, to counter ethnic and religious extremism and prevent inter-ethnic conflicts.

The development of the package of measures is an important means not only of suppressing extremist activities but also of preventing ethnic and religious extremism and inculcating tolerant attitudes among citizens. The implementation of such a wide-ranging package of measures is possible only if the Government of the Russian Federation plays a coordinating role. In this connection, the package of measures has been sent to the Government of the Russian Federation for approval.

In accordance with Government Decision No. 629 of 25 August 2001, the special federal programme entitled “Shaping tolerant attitudes and preventing extremism in Russian society, 2001-2005” was implemented during the period 2001-2005. The programme was aimed at developing a strategy for social safety and ensuring the consolidation of Russian society.

The objective of the programme was to shape tolerant attitudes that would ensure the consistent behaviour of individuals and social groups in society, which is the foundation of civil accord in a democratic State.

The programme devoted particular attention to three priority areas: the monitoring of social intolerance and tension among various social groups and regions; the development of effective technologies for creating social norms for tolerance; and the creation of tolerance and social safety pilot centres.

The main results of implementing the programme are the following:

1.Development of 172 study programmes for all levels of education, covering different age, professional and ethnic groups;

2.Creation of a databank entitled “Addresses of tolerance”, which includes more than 1,000 organizations and institutions that are social partners in projects to promote tolerance and prevent extremism;

3.Holding of 87 training seminars to promote tolerance in 53 regions of the Russian Federation;

4.Conduct of humanitarian expert studies of educational programmes and textbooks, psychological and pedagogical studies of computer games that provoke destructive behaviour in children and teenagers;

5.Creation, at the regional and municipal levels, of social and psychological services to deal with crisis situations; the activities of these services are aimed at ensuring the social health of society and providing assistance to victims of violence and cruelty.

At present, similar projects are being conducted in the context of the special federal programme for the development of education for 2006-2010.

We should also like to inform you that, with a view to ensuring the State’s effective solution of problems relating to satisfying citizens’ ethnocultural needs, the Russian Federation is implementing the basic provisions of its guidelines for an ethnic educational policy, which was approved by Ministry of Education and Science Order No. 201 of 3 August 2006. In implementing the guidelines, every year the Centre for Ethnic Education of the federal State institution “Federal Institution for the Development of Education”, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, holds an ongoing methodological seminar on the topic “Civil society and the individual: problems of education in ethnically heterogeneous Russian society”. The outcome documents of the seminars are sent to the government bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are responsible for education. Those documents explain, inter alia, provisions and put forward methodological recommendations for the implementation of Federal Act No. 131-FZ of 6 October 2003 on general principles for organizing local government in the Russian Federation. In accordance with article 14, paragraph 1, of the Federal Act, the creation of conditions for carrying out activities relating to the exercise of the rights of local ethnocultural autonomies falls within the competence of local administrations and includes support for the study of ethnic languages, history, literature and ethnic art in educational institutions.

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