Sceptische reactie op mensenrechten-instituut in Rusland (en)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Human rights experts have dismissed the idea of a Russia-sponsored human rights institute as a political game by president Vladimir Putin, but warned that the EU is providing him with political ammunition through its own human rights shortcomings.
The surprise suggestion to set up a human rights monitoring body was presented by the Russian leader at the EU-Russia summit in the Portuguese town of Mafra on Friday (26 October).
Moscow's proposal was welcomed as a "step in the right direction" by Portuguese prime minister Jose Socrates, amid strong European criticism in recent years on Russia's human rights record.
The EU's welcoming words, echoed by the European Commission on Monday (29 October), came despite signals from Moscow that it wants the institute to focus purely on human rights in Europe, not Russia.
Mr Putin's personal envoy for relations with the EU, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, said "This is not going to be a joint venture," adding "the institute will be monitoring the situation in Europe concerning rights of ethnic minorities, immigrants, media and such".
Michael Emerson, senior researcher at the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy Studies, reacted by saying "the idea goes in line with Russia's current political drive to keep repeating to the EU - you're not perfect either - in what appears as a non-military offensive."
"Baltic states will probably not be very enthusiastic to see such an institute, as Russia in the past particularly criticised their approach against ethnic Russians," he told EUobserver.
Mr Emerson noted that the proposal is somewhat extraordinary given the restrictive measures Mr Putin's administration has introduced towards NGOs and other research bodies in his own country, making it harder for them to monitor and report human rights abuses.
Amnesty International is among those organisations harmed by the restrictions imposed by Russian authorities, according to the chairman of its EU office, Dick Oosting.
He argues that the institute envisaged by Russia would most likely not add much in terms of research on human rights issues in Europe.
"We have the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and also the EU human rights agency in Vienna. But the question is - do we need more monitoring or governments who act?" Mr Oosting asked.
But he pointed out that the EU has become much more vulnerable in the human rights area, especially after the controversy surrounding EU member states' apparent knowledge of CIA flights transporting terror suspects, but also in minority or immigration policies.
"The EU doesn't have much to answer and Putin knows it. That's why it is so easy for him to hit out. The only way out for the EU is to be more open about its own problems. Especially given that the EU likes to present itself as the union of values," said Mr Oosting.