The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation

Today Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Yuri Chaika has met with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg.

In his opening speech, Yuri Chaika underlined particular importance of contacts with the Council of Europe and thanked Thomas Hammarberg for the opportunity to exchange information.

The Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation told Thomas Hammarberg about the work of the prosecution authorities of Russia to secure constitutional rights and freedoms. In this regard, the Prosecutor General stated that every year the prosecution authorities receive approximately 3 million complaints from citizens. These complaints are considered promptly and free of charge.

Thomas Hammarberg thanked Yuri Chaika for the warm welcome and said that he was impressed with the activity of the prosecution authorities – “The Prosecutor General’s Office plays a key role in the protection of human rights”.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights informed that during his visit to the North Caucasian Republics he was deeply satisfied with the positive changes towards normalization of the situation in the region and he highly appreciated the role of the prosecution authorities of the North Caucasus in the process of stabilization of life and in protection of the legitimate interests of people and underlined that the Prosecution Service had done a lot to combat international terrorism.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights particularly touched upon the issue of illegal interrogation. He asked to keep this matter under scrutiny. However, he noted that “over the last year, there has been no information about the use of torture (in the Chechen Republic). It is the result of the joint efficient work of the Council of Europe and the prosecution authorities”.

Yuri Chaika told the Commissioner for Human Rights “that in our country such investigative technique is a criminally punishable act. If we receive such information, our response will be tough and rapid”.

Thomas Hammarberg also expressed his readiness to study the work experience of the Prosecution Service of Russia outside the criminal field, international practice and to elaborate recommendations for all the CE member states.

Yuri Chaika invited the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights to take part in the Conference of Prosecutors General of Europe devoted to the role of the Prosecution Service in the protection of human rights and public interests outside criminal field, which would take place in summer, 2008, in Saint Petersburg. The invitation was gratefully accepted.

In conclusion, the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation expressed his strong will to further maintain business and partnership relations and multidimensional and beneficial cooperation.

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