On 21 June, High Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Tatiana Moskalkova met with Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Valeriya Lutkovska in Minsk.

It was the first meeting of Tatiana Moskalkova with her Ukrainian counterpart. The aim of the meeting was to establish efficient interaction between human rights commissioners of both countries regarding humanitarian aspects within the framework of their competence.

During the meeting the participants exchanged their views on a broad range of pressing human rights issues. Human rights commissioners of Russia and Ukraine agreed to further interact within the framework of the agreement between the parties signed in 2013; to extend the exchange of information about observance of rights and legal interests of both countries’ nationals, and agreed on the ruling principle of cooperation: protection of human rights is above politics.

The parties checked their lists of convicts in custody, prepared a memorandum about transfer of Ukrainian citizens to Ukraine, and agreed to address the competent bodies of their countries for assistance in resolving this issue.

Tatiana Moskalkova stressed the importance of exchange of information about forms and methods of national human rights institutions’ work, establishment of a constructive dialogue, and expressed her hope that the joint work would be fruitful.

In addition, both parties expressed their appreciation to the Republic of Belarus for the opportunity to conduct the meeting.