11/10/2016 (Agence Europe) – It is with "deep regret" that Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, announced on Tuesday 11 October, his decision to forego his planned working visit to Russia during the third week of October. This is due to the "unacceptable restrictions" imposed on his programme by the Russian authorities. Restricted to 48 hours and limited to Moscow, his programme would have consisted of no more than a single day of work. It is therefore impossible to carry out a substantial visit of the country, Muižnieks stated, who was hoping to meet the authorities, national human rights organisations, civil society and appropriate dialogue partners, including outside the capital. Agreeing to Russian demands would have been unfair in relation to other Council of Europe members and ineffective as part of the task of protecting human rights in Russia, he explained. Muižniekssaid that he hoped that in the future there would be a full return to cooperation with the Kremlin. (VL)