Resolution on EU-Russia relations following the murder of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on EU-Russia relations following the murder of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

The resolution was tabled by the EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and UEN groups.

The Parliament condemns in the strongest terms the murder of Anna Politkovskaya and calls on the Russian authorities to conduct an independent and efficient investigation to find and punish those responsible for this cowardly crime. It calls on the EU and the Council of Europe to monitor these investigations closely.

The Russian authorities are called upon to fight actively against intimidation of independent journalists and human rights activists and to give full protection to independent journalists who expose serious cases of injustice in their country and to human rights organisations and their representatives who defend the victims of human rights violations.

The Parliament calls on the Commission and the Member States to take a principled and steadfast stand in the negotiations on a new PCA with the Russian Federation, insisting on the safeguarding of freedom of the press and respect for independent journalism in accordance with European standards.

The Parliament urges the Council, in this context, to give serious thought to the future of relations with the Russian Federation, debating the subject with the European Parliament and civil society with a view to placing democracy, human rights and freedom of expression at the core of any future agreement and instituting a clear mechanism to monitor the implementation of all the clauses of such an agreement.