The head of the presidential human rights council, Mikhail Fedotov, has thanked the police for their handling of a mass opposition march and rally in central Moscow on 12 June, Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported on the same day.
"I would like to commend the work of the police. I think everything has been organized very well. They are not simply showing loyalty in relation to Muscovites, they are being friendly and courteous," Fedotov said.
He went on to stress the significance of the fact that preparations for the opposition protest had been carried out under public control. "I think this should become the norm, should develop into a tradition and later should form part of the law on rallies and demonstrations," Fedotov concluded.
Another senior human rights figure, ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, also welcomed the fact that the March of Millions opposition protest proceeded in strict accordance with the law and without violations. An earlier RIA Novosti report on the same day quoted him as saying: "I believe for the moment, there have been no violations. The event is being held in strict accordance with the law and prior agreements reached."
He pointed out that the protesters behaved in accordance with their civil rights, while the police "were deliberately correct and polite".
Interfax news agency later on 12 June further quoted Lukin as saying that the March of Millions opposition rally played a positive role in promoting a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition. "The authorities and society are learning how to talk to each other. For now, there is a lot of contrast and black-and-white mentality. But we are hoping for a better future," he said.
The head of the presidential human rights council, Mikhail Fedotov, has thanked the police for their handling of a mass opposition march and rally in central Moscow on 12 June, Russian RIA Novosti news agency reported on the same day.
"I would like to commend the work of the police. I think everything has been organized very well. They are not simply showing loyalty in relation to Muscovites, they are being friendly and courteous," Fedotov said.
He went on to stress the significance of the fact that preparations for the opposition protest had been carried out under public control. "I think this should become the norm, should develop into a tradition and later should form part of the law on rallies and demonstrations," Fedotov concluded.
Another senior human rights figure, ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, also welcomed the fact that the March of Millions opposition protest proceeded in strict accordance with the law and without violations. An earlier RIA Novosti report on the same day quoted him as saying: "I believe for the moment, there have been no violations. The event is being held in strict accordance with the law and prior agreements reached."
He pointed out that the protesters behaved in accordance with their civil rights, while the police "were deliberately correct and polite".
Interfax news agency later on 12 June further quoted Lukin as saying that the March of Millions opposition rally played a positive role in promoting a dialogue between the authorities and the opposition. "The authorities and society are learning how to talk to each other. For now, there is a lot of contrast and black-and-white mentality. But we are hoping for a better future," he said.