Brussels, 19/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a common resolution from the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA, UEN, GUE/NGL and IND/DEM groups and adopted on Thursday 18 December in Strasbourg, the European Parliament condemns the attacks against human rights defenders in Russia and urges Moscow to protect and ensure their physical safety. While negotiations on a partnership and cooperation agreement are being relaunched, the Parliament points out that human rights, rule of law and democracy must remain key issues for the development of relations between the EU and Russia. Inviting Moscow to respect all the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, the Parliament also denounces the recent attempts at rehabilitation of a Stalinian regime and the growing xenophobic and homophobic trends. The Parliament states its consternation that no light has been shed on the identity of those who carried out or ordered the assassination of Russian journalist, Anna Politkovskaïa, after two years of investigation. It also states its concern about the Russian law on extremism which, it says, is likely to restrict freedom of movement of information and lead Russian authorities to further restrict the right of free expression of human rights defenders. Finally, the Parliament denounces the continued large-scale abuses against conscripts in the Russian armed forces and calls on Russian authorities to prosecute those responsible. (E.H./transl.jl)