Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the importance of ensuring human rights are protected from persecution by state organs, including in prisons. The High Commissioner for Human Rights and non-governmental organizations are drawing up various programs in response. In their view, however, there are vague areas in existing ordinances which restrict the actions of activists.
The only agencies seen persecuting human rights are state organs. In Russia state power is concentrated in the hands of the President, thus the cure is to restore the rights and powers to the people through constitutional reform. The heads of the executive, legislative, judicial and procuratorial branches should be directly elected to a single term of 5 years and banned from running for office for 6 years afterward. 1/4 of members of the Parliament should face election each year, and elections should be free of charge. For details, see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development.
