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Rice holds Russia rights meetings Rice encourages Russian activists
(30 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting human rights activists in Moscow as she continues a Russian visit that has so far been coolly received. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has pledged support for human rights activists in Moscow, during a Russian visit that has been coolly received.
Ms Rice has said she will discuss democracy in meetings that may add to growing tensions with the Kremlin. Ms Rice said she wanted to hear from local activists about the state of human rights and democracy in Russia.
She emphasised, however, that she had no wish to interfere in Russia's internal affairs.
The US has accused President Vladimir Putin of rolling back democracy and trampling rights, charges he denies.The US has accused President Vladimir Putin of rolling back democracy and trampling rights, charges he denies.
On Friday talks about US plans to base a missile shield in Eastern Europe ended acrimoniously. One of the activists who met Ms Rice told the BBC she wanted the United States to condemn what she called the Kremlin's stifling of democratic society.
Following the tense meetings with Mr Putin and his defence and foreign ministers, Ms Rice and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates will pursue their own schedules on Saturday. The activist said she would tell the secretary of state that Russia is sliding towards an authoritarian regime, where constitutional and human rights are constantly violated.
Ms Rice plans to talk about democracy with representatives of Russian non-governmental organisations, while Mr Gates will address military students at the Academy of Russia's General Staff. Ms Rice told the activists she wanted to support them, but was also very careful to point out that the US is not interfering in Russian domestic politics but supporting organisations that are entirely indigenous to Russia, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Moscow.
One of those due to meet Ms Rice, Svetlana Gannushkina of the Moscow-based organisation Civil Assistance, said ahead of the meeting that she thought the human rights situation in Russia was deteriorating. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who is travelling with Ms Rice, was expected to address military students at the Academy of Russia's General Staff on Saturday.
"It has become harder to communicate our concerns because of restrictions on freedom of speech. The situation in North Caucasus remains a worry and so is the position of NGOs," Ms Gannushkina said. On Friday, talks about US plans to base a missile shield in Eastern Europe ended acrimoniously.
Wary Kremlin The secretary of state was due to have dinner later with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, while the defence secretary will meet Viktor Zubkov, the prime minister.
The secretary of state will have dinner later with her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, while the defence secretary will meet Viktor Zubkov, the prime minister.
It gets really bad, when [NGOs] start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims President Vladimir PutinIt gets really bad, when [NGOs] start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims President Vladimir Putin
Their trip comes as Russia prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections over the next five months, notes the BBC's Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin. Their trip comes as Russia prepares for parliamentary and presidential elections over the next five months.
Mr Putin must step down in March after two terms in office.Mr Putin must step down in March after two terms in office.
But he has already hinted he may become prime minister and return as president in 2012, as the constitution allows.But he has already hinted he may become prime minister and return as president in 2012, as the constitution allows.
Analysts say Ms Rice's visit to Russian non-governmental organisations could make the Kremlin wary.Analysts say Ms Rice's visit to Russian non-governmental organisations could make the Kremlin wary.
The Russian Itar-Tass news agency said Mr Putin this week sounded a note of caution about NGOs in comments to visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.The Russian Itar-Tass news agency said Mr Putin this week sounded a note of caution about NGOs in comments to visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
How US missile shield works Q&A: US missile defencesHow US missile shield works Q&A: US missile defences
"It gets really bad, when such organisations start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims," the agency quoted Mr Putin as saying."It gets really bad, when such organisations start to be used by some states against other states as a tool in pursuit of their foreign policy aims," the agency quoted Mr Putin as saying.
Russia is furious at US plans to base an anti-missile system in its geographical backyard, in Poland and the Czech Republic.Russia is furious at US plans to base an anti-missile system in its geographical backyard, in Poland and the Czech Republic.
But the White House team rejected Russian appeals at Friday's meetings in Moscow to halt the scheme.But the White House team rejected Russian appeals at Friday's meetings in Moscow to halt the scheme.
Mr Putin was not convinced by US assurances that the system would be to counteract "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran.Mr Putin was not convinced by US assurances that the system would be to counteract "rogue" states such as North Korea and Iran.
He threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile reduction treaty if Washington forged ahead with the plans.He threatened to abandon a key nuclear missile reduction treaty if Washington forged ahead with the plans.