Amnesty Criticizes Russia Ahead Of G8 Meeting

Russia's new NGO law has come under domestic and foreign criticism (RFE/RL)

10 February 2006 -- Human rights watchdog Amnesty International says the international community has failed to hold Russia accountable for its clampdown on civil-society organizations, including restrictions on freedom of speech.

In a statement, Amnesty said the international community had failed to confront Russia effectively about these practices.

Amnesty also criticized Russia for what it called the continuing violation of human rights in Chechnya.

The Amnesty statement comes as Russia today hosts a major meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized countries in Moscow. It's the first major event since Russia assumed the rotating chairmanship of the group on 1 January.

The G8 members are the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Russia, and the United States.

(dpa)