To Mary Robinson 10.03.2000

To: Mary Robinson, 10.03.2000

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Palais Wilson, CH-1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland

Fax: (41-22) 917-9012

Esteemed High Commissioner for Human Rights,

With this we express our deep gratitude to you for your firm position in protecting the basic human rights in Russia.

We consider as unacceptable the restrictions imposed by Russian official representatives concerning the visits of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Russia, including Northern Caucasia Region. We note with satisfaction that Ombudsman of the Russian Federation Oleg Mironov also strongly condemned this position of Russian authorities at his press-conference in Moscow on February 28, 2000.

We believe that only you yourself, not the authorities of the country subjected to inspections, must have a power to schedule the time of inspection tours performed by you personally or by your representatives. We insist again and again that only UNANNOUNCED inspections are capable to prevent abuse of power, cruel treatment and other violations of human rights perpetrated by representatives of State authorities.

With deep respect:

Boris Altshuler, Member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Head of "Movement without Frontiers" and of "Right of Child" NGOs,
Member of the Board of RRCHR.
Ludmila Alexeeva,
Chairperson of the Moscow Helsinki Group, President of the International Helsinki Federation,
Member of the Board of RRCHR.

Valery Abramkin, Member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Chairman of the Prison Reform Center,
Member of the Board of RRCHR.
Valery Borschev, Member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Chairman of the Permanent Chamber on Human Rights of the Political-Advisory Council under President of Russia.

Valentina Melnikova, Executive Secretary of the Coordinating Council of The Union of Committees of Soldiers Mothers of Russia.
Chairperson of the Board of RRCHR.
Veronika Marchenko,
Chairperson of the Board of the Public-Charity "Mothers' Rights" Foundation,
Member of the Board of RRCHR.

Yuri Savenko, President of the Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia,
Member of the Board of RRCHR.
Lubov' Vinogradova,
Executive Director of RRCHR

Alexei Smirnov,
Member of the Board of RRCHR.
Oleg Chirikov, Executive Director of "Right to Life and Human Dignity" NGO,
Member of the Board of RRCHR.

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Boris Altshuler, Member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Head of "Movement without Frontiers" and of "Right of Child" NGOs, Member of the Board of RRCHR.	Ludmila Alexeeva, Chairperson of the Moscow Helsinki Group, President of the International Helsinki Federation, Member of the Board of RRCHR.
Valery Abramkin, Member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Chairman of the Prison Reform Center, Member of the Board of RRCHR.	Valery Borschev, Member of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Chairman of the Permanent Chamber on Human Rights of the Political-Advisory Council under President of Russia.
Valentina Melnikova, Executive Secretary of the Coordinating Council of The Union of Committees of Soldiers Mothers of Russia. Chairperson of the Board of RRCHR.	Veronika Marchenko, Chairperson of the Board of the Public-Charity "Mothers' Rights" Foundation, Member of the Board of RRCHR.
Yuri Savenko, President of the Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia, Member of the Board of RRCHR.	Lubov' Vinogradova, Executive Director of RRCHR
Alexei Smirnov, Member of the Board of RRCHR.		Oleg Chirikov, Executive Director of "Right to Life and Human Dignity" NGO, Member of the Board of RRCHR.