Amnesty International Report Criticizes Russia

(RFE/RL) May 23, 2007 -- The human rights group Amnesty International has criticized Russian authorities for pressuring media and civil-society groups, but failing to react to a dramatic increase in hate crimes in the country.

In its 2007 global report, which was released today, Amnesty International said Russian authorities have "deliberately fomented fear to erode human rights."

The report said Russia is failing to confront "racism, xenophobia, and the ideologies that promote hate crimes."

(AP)