Ashton to make statement on Russian polls at European Parliament

STRASBOURG, July 6 (Itar-Tass) - EU supreme representative for foreign
affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton will make a statement at the
European Parliament session on Wednesday on the coming general elections
in Russia. The baroness will also describe deputies the situation in North
African countries, including Libya.
According to the tradition, parliamentary debates will be held here on
the above topics; European legislators can put forth questions to the head
of the European foreign policy department. The European parliament will
hold voting by the results of the debates on appropriate resolutions on
Thursday.
A representative of the EU supreme legislative body told Itar-Tass
that "the key question on the agenda on Wednesday will be progress in
preparation for the elections to the Russian State Duma, scheduled for
December 2011". "The EU is sure that the coming general and presidential
elections in Russia should pass in strict compliance with the standards of
the Council of Europe and the OSCE," the representative said.
Deputies will also debate a recent decision of Russian authorities to
refuse register the Party of Popular Freedom (PARNAS).
The Russian Justice Ministry made public a decision on the party back
on June 22, exposing inconsistently between the Rules and registration
documents. Besides, it was established that the list of party members
included minors and dead citizens.
"Some influential deputies of the European Parliament, including
chairman of the human rights subcommittee, Finnish legislator Heidi
Hautala, believe that such actions with respect to PARNAS are
illegitimate and can tell negatively on political pluralism in the
country," Strasbourg legislators noted.
"Deputies mull over a possibility of imposing sanctions on ranking
officials of the Justice Ministry, including Minister Alexander Konovalov
and some of his deputies, as a retaliatory measure."
The European Parliament centres on the political situation in Russia
not for the first time. In June 2011, European legislators already adopted
a document, under which a procedure of registering some political parties
and candidates turned to be unjust and, thus, is a hindrance in the way to
free and just elections.
Lawmakers will also discuss the situation in North African countries,
including Libya where the NATO military operation continues. The European
Parliament hopes that Ashton will appraise "the road map" of the Libyan
opposition on turning over to peace talks and a further settlement of the
situation in Libya.
It was made public on Monday that meetings of the Libyan government
and rebels on a ceasefire and the start of a dialogue between opposing
forces took place in some European countries and Egypt. At the same time,
Muammar Gaddafi's spokesman refuted on Sunday a report by some mass media
that the Libyan leader agrees to leave the presidency in exchange for
security guarantees.