Open public dialogue vital for Russian security and democracy - FSB head
Interfax
Moscow, 17 May: The leadership of Russia's Federal Security Service [FSB] considers that dialogue with the public is important for the development of democratic public institutions and to ensure national security.
"The opportunity to have open dialogue with the public is important for all of us. Russian citizens should know that the principle of lawfulness, observance of rights, and people's freedoms are among the basic principles underlying the activity of the special services," Federal Security Service Director Nikolay Patrushev said today at a meeting of the Federal Security Service Public Council [which was created on 12 May 2007].
"It is important for us that the work of the public council should not become a formality," said Patrushev.
"Effective, constructive forms of joint work are needed that can help strengthen and develop democratic institutions in our society, and reliably ensure the security of the Russian Federation," he said, adding: "We need to pay serious attention to this".
Recommendations made by the Russian Public Chamber had been taken into account in forming the Federal Security Service Public Council, said Patrushev.
"Without a doubt, we took into account the Public Chamber's opinion that was sent to us," he said.
Patrushev described the creation of the Federal Security Service Public Council and the start of its work as a landmark event, adding that similar public councils existed within other federal bodies.