Russia’s Medvedev eases restrictions on rights groups, other nongovernmental organizations

September 26th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Iran to allow immediate inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the Islamic republic's second uranium enrichment facility, Russian media reported Saturday. Medvedev said the announcement by Iran of a second facility had created difficulties for the international community in the row over Tehran's nuclear capabilities.

September 21st, 2009 Rights groups: UN must name special envoy for IranNEW YORK — Human rights groups urged the United Nations on Monday to appoint a special envoy to investigate continuing abuses in Iran following the disputed presidential elections there. "The United Nations should use President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the U.N.

September 15th, 2009 Reports: Medvedev wants to meet US 'dissidents'MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he would like to meet with "dissidents" when he visits the U.S. next week. Russian news agencies quote him as telling a group of visiting foreign experts that "I believe there are dissidents in the United States." ITAR-Tass quotes him as saying: "Let them tell me what problems the United States has.

September 15th, 2009 Medvedev not ruling out run in 2012MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he hasn't ruled out running for a second term in 2012. Questions about whether he will run have swirled since his predecessor and mentor Vladimir Putin indicated last week that he was also interested in running for another term.

September 15th, 2009 Medvedev not ruling out run in 2012 electionsMOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday he hasn't ruled out running for a second term, Russian news agencies reported — adding new intrigue to the question of who will assume the presidency in 2012. Medvedev's comments, made to a group of Western experts on Russia, came just days after his mentor and current prime minister, Vladimir Putin, indicated he was also interested in returning to the post, an announcement that sparked speculation about the possibility of behind-the-scenes Kremlin jockeying.

September 14th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in a speech at a global security conference attended by European heads of government Monday again called for a modern international security pact. "No one should hide problems behind an 'iron curtain'," Medvedev said at the opening of the first international Modern and Global Security Conference being held in Yaroslavl, some 300 km north-east of Moscow.

September 11th, 2009 Russian leader orders restrictions on beerMOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev is ordering new restrictions on the sale of beer and similar beverages in what appears to be his first effort to battle Russia's rampant alcoholism. Medvedev has publicly decried Russia's drinking problem and its effect on the nation's well-being.

July 30th, 2009 Zimbabwe eases foreign media restrictionsHARARE, Zimbabwe — The British Broadcasting Corp. has resumed broadcasting from Zimbabwe for the first time since it was banned in 2001 and the five-month-old coalition government said it also was considering allowing CNN back.

July 22nd, 2009 Russian activist dead, colleague suspects murderMOSCOW — A Russian human rights activist has been found dead in a sand pit weeks after he went missing, according to police and a colleague who said Wednesday that he suspects the prisoners' rights advocate was murdered. The news of Andrei Kulagin's death came a week after the abduction and killing of Natalya Estemirova, a well-respected human rights activist and critic of the Kremlin-backed leader of Russia's war-scarred Chechnya region.

July 7th, 2009 Putin says Obama meeting went wellMOSCOW — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says his first meeting with President Barack Obama went "very well." The former Russian president called the two-hour meeting "substantive, informative and collaborative." Putin told reporters he and Obama "covered the issues from previous years" and found "many positives" and "many points in common." Obama also had good things to say about their meeting Tuesday, and said he found Putin's views similar to those of Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev. Before heading to Russia, Obama had described Putin as still having a confrontational Cold War mentality, while the younger Medvedev seemed to understand that it was time for a new approach to U.S.-Russia relations.

July 6th, 2009 Obama trusts Medvedev to follow throughMOSCOW — President Barack Obama says he trusts Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (dih-MEE'-tree med-VYEH'-dyev) to follow through on the agreements the two leaders have announced at their summit in Moscow. The agreements include a preliminary deal to reduce both nations' stockpiles of nuclear warheads.

July 6th, 2009 Russian rights activists seek Obama's earMOSCOW — Some prominent Russian human rights activists said Monday they fear they won't be able to talk frankly and in detail about Russia's checkered rights record when they meet briefly with President Barack Obama during the summit. Leaders of the country's leading human rights groups, including the Moscow Helsinki Group and Memorial, hope to speak with Obama in a gathering of civic groups Tuesday on the sidelines of the two-day meeting.

July 3rd, 2009 Russia approves bill easing pressure on NGOsMOSCOW — Russia's lower house of parliament on Friday approved a bill easing restrictions on the country's beleaguered human rights groups and other non-governmental organizations. Observers say Russia is keen to show its liberal credentials ahead of President Barack Obama's three-day visit to Moscow beginning Monday.

May 9th, 2009 NGOs warn of restrictions in pending Venezuela lawCARACAS, Venezuela — Prominent Venezuelan nongovernmental organizations warned Thursday that a bill being drafted by lawmakers loyal to President Hugo Chavez could be used to financially strangle groups that criticize the government. Ruling-party lawmakers argue the proposed law is necessary to increase oversight of foreign funding destined for NGOs, although they've promised to hear concerns from critics before taking up the bill for likely approval in the coming months.

May 9th, 2009 Amnesty says rights in Russia remain weakMOSCOW — Rising attacks against rights activists and journalists in Russia as well as ongoing violence in southern regions show little has been done to improve human rights since President Dmitry Medvedev came to power a year ago, Amnesty International said Thursday. The advocacy group said in a statement timed to coincide with the first anniversary of Medvedev's inauguration that human rights have deteriorated in some areas despite initial positive signals.