The U.N's top human rights official is decrying violence in Russia against activists and journalists but says the country has made some incremental moves toward reform.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says her four days of meetings with Russian officials, including President Dmitry Medvedev, show there is "some recognition at the top" that Russia’s observance of human rights is seriously flawed.
Although she commends Medvedev for his public support of reforms, she says reform actions "have not advanced sufficiently to be considered a success."
At a news conference Thursday, Pillay cited the killing and harassment of journalists and rights activists as setbacks for Russia.
She said those problems are especially acute in Russia’s Caucasus region, where rights violations appear to be fueling an Islamist insurgency.
