Watchdog

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband met with human rights activists in Moscow today, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Oleg Orlov, the director of the Memorial Center for Human Rights, attended the meeting and told RFE/RL that Miliband expressed his concern over the killings of activists of nongovernmental organizations in Russia and the pressure that is being imposed on civil society.

The activists told Miliband that the situation regarding human rights in Russia is worsening.

Miliband also discussed nonproliferation issues and the situation in Afghanistan and the Middle East with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, earlier on November 2.

Miliband's trip comes on the third anniversary of the poisoning of Russian emigre Aleksandr Litvinenko in London.

Britain wants a Russian man extradited to England in connection with the murder, but Moscow has thus far refused that request, saying that the Russian Constitution forbids the extradition of Russian citizens.

Kyrgyz journalist Kubanychbek Joldoshev was beaten by unknown assailants and hospitalized in Osh on November 2, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

Joldoshev, a former RFE/RL correspondent, was working for the "Osh Shamy" newspaper.

"Osh Shamy" editor Turgunbay Aldakulov told RFE/RL that three unknown assailants attacked Joldoshev as he was returning home.

He suffered a concussion and other head injuries.

Joldoshev's colleages say the attack is connected with his professional activities. He covered Osh University student protests last month.

Several journalists have been threatened or severely beaten in Kyrgyzstan this year.

Others have sought and received asylum in Western countries.