On 17 May, High Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Tatiana Moskalkova held a meeting with Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in the Russian Federation Petr Sich.

Tatiana Moskalkova noted that she was ready for a constructive dialogue and development of cooperation with the Council of Europe. The High Commissioner intends to continue the launched joint projects and develop new directions of cooperation. At present the High Commissioner conducts activities within the framework of three projects: the Post-conflict Programme for the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, Russian Next Generation PMC Project, and International Human Rights Standards and Mechanisms for Staff of Ombudsman’s Federal and Regional Departments.

Petr Sich invited Tatiana Moskalkova to participate in the events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Russian Federation’s accession to the Council of Europe and noted the high importance of this historical event. The High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office reached an agreement on bilateral cooperation in the field of human rights protection. In particular, the parties discussed possibilities of joint human rights education activities, for instance, within the framework of the Programme on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) in Russia.