EU lawmakers worried about human rights in Russia

STRASBOURG, France, Apr 26 (Reuters) European Union parliamentarians today criticised human rights abuses in Russia, Iran and China and urged EU governments to raise the issue in new cooperation talks with Moscow.

The European Parliament noted in particular the situation in Russia's North Caucasus province of Chechnya and curbs on the rights of non-governmental organisations.

The assembly's report on human rights abuses across the world also said it was appalled at the murder of independent Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya last year.

It expressed concern over allegations of Russian involvement in the poisoning of former spy Alexander Litvinenko and the mistreatment in prison of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former boss of energy firm Yukos.

''The Parliament ... urges the Commission and Council (EU governments) to raise such cases with the Russian authorities at the highest level and in the new partnership and cooperation agreement with Russia,'' it said in a statement.

The EU hopes to start negotiations on the cooperation pact before a summit in May with President Vladimir Putin. But the talks remain blocked by Poland, which says Moscow should first lift its embargo on Polish meat exports.

The parliament also said any improvement in trade relations with China should depend on that country's progress on human rights, which are still violated, notably in Tibet.

It said the situation had deteriorated in Iran, due largely to increasing government repression of human rights defenders.

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