The situation of non-governmental organizations and homosexual rights activists in Russia are high on the agenda for the forthcoming visit to Moscow by Markus Löning, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office. The Commissioner will be in the Russian capital for three days next week (21 to 23 September).

In addition to talks in the Russian Foreign Ministry, his appointments include meetings with representatives of non-governmental organizations. Löning will talk to them about their current predicament. Last Monday (13 September), Russian prosecutors ordered a number of Russian NGOs without warning to provide copious documents at extremely short notice.

While in Moscow, the Human Rights Commissioner will also meet homosexual rights activists in order to discuss their situation. Moreover, he will observe part of the ongoing trial against Mikhail Khodorkovsky.