Putin approves of initiative on Foreign Ministry commission monitoring compatriots’ rights abroad

MOSCOW. Oct 30 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported human rights defenders’ proposal on setting up a special commission in the Russian Foreign Ministry in order to monitor the situation with Russians citizens’ rights abroad and provide them with legal assistance, if necessary.

“I believe, it’s a good idea. It can be even more efficient than just the administrative efforts of the Foreign Ministry itself,” Putin said, commenting during a meeting of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights on a relevant statement made by the council’s member and head of the Moscow Human Rights Bureau Alexander Brod.

He suggested “creating a working group at the Russian Foreign Ministry comprising representatives of specialized non-governmental organizations, lawyers, and attorneys to monitor facts of discrimination against Russian citizens abroad and develop legal response and protection mechanisms.”