The presidential commission on human rights will focus on "environmental rights of citizens," commission members said Thursday.
The meeting will seek to "change current legislation causing problems" and call for better access to environmental information, Alexander Karpov, head of the Ekom environmental think tank, told reporters.
Commission member and Greenpeace Russia executive director Sergei Tsiplenkov said the body, which answers directly to President Dmitry Medvedev, planned to produce a list of environmental problems that is likely to include the Khimki forest controversy, the pulp and paper plant on Lake Baikal, and forest ownership, Tsiplenkov said.
At Medvedev's suggestion, the next session of the council in September will be held in "a region with serious environmental problems," the shortlist for which includes Buryatia, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and the Urals Federal District, Tsiplenkov said.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
