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Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev suggests that legislation on NGO should be amended and positive dialog between the powers and non-governmental organizations be established. The president encouraged human rights activists and NGOs to intensify their work towards respect for human rights in the conditions of economic crisis and unemployment.

The attack last night on Lev Ponomaryov, right, Executive Director of the independent organisation ‘For human rights,’ adds to the rapidly growing number of violent crimes against Russian opposition activists, journalists and human rights defenders.

The applicants, whose claims were satisfied on March 12 were residents of the Chechen settlements Urus-Martan and Tsotsi-Yurt. Their relatives disappeared after being detained and taken away by armed people in masks in the period of 2001-2003. Nothing is known about them since.

SOVA Center claims that Russian citizens face lots of problems when seeking to exercise their right to freedom of conscience. Russian anti-extremism legislation is unable to control the process.

Maxim Zolotarev, an editor with the independent Molva Yuzhnoye Podmoskovye newspaper, was attacked with pepper spray and then beaten with clubs as he left for work at about 12:30 p.m. on March 12. The unknown attackers fled in a Mitsubishi sedan.

Regional branch of Russia’s Union of Journalists initiated picket in the support of the journalist Vadim Rogozhin who was attempted on the March, the 5th.

-Journalists remain the most defenseless “fighters for a just world order”, the Russian Union of Journalists say in its statement pledging support for another Russian journalist being attempted.

Germany’s Gerd Bucerius Foundation has announced the winners of its “Free Press of Eastern Europe” prize – a prestigious award conferred on journalists for their commitment to the principles of free reporting. The list includes the names of two Russian journalists – Zoya Svetova and Roman Shleinov.

Veronika Marchenko, the Head of Russian NGO Mother’s Right Foundation (Russian Research Center for Human Rights/ Moscow HRH), became a recipient of the third annual Secretary of State’s Award for International Women of Courage. The Award recognizes the courage and leadership shown as women struggle for social justice and human rights.