04 June 2004 05:50
Duma security committee chairman meets with rights workers
MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax) - The problems of creating and developing institutions of social control over law
enforcement agencies were discussed at a meeting between Duma security committee Chairman Vladimir Vasilyev and
representatives of human rights organizations.
Lyudmila Alekseeva, a representative of the Moscow Helsinki group and member of the Russian presidential human rights
commission, Sergei Polyatykin, chief of the foundation No to Alchoholism and Drug Addiction, Alexey Golovan,
children's rights envoy for the city of Moscow, and Anna Tikhomirova, a member of the Judicial Reform Center, and
other human rights defenders were present at the meeting.
The issue of cooperation between lawmakers and representatives of society in preventing crime and drug addiction was
among children those discussed at the meeting.
Vasilyev said that two different approaches to this problem exist. One side proposes making the punishment for drug
use more strict, while others suggest legalizing drugs.
He said that he thinks neither of these ways is right for Russia. Vasilyev spoke for conducting a wide discussion of
the issue in the State Duma this fall, which should be attended by representatives of government agencies and social
institutions. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG POL ASIA] aa tl <>
[Interfax] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
