US fears that Russia parliament elections not to meet intl norms

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Itar-Tass) - The United States fears that the
parliamentary elections in Russia due in December will fail to meet
international standards, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas O.
Melia said on Tuesday at a hearing in the House of Representatives.
Melia called Russia perhaps the most difficult challenge to democratic
reform in Europe. There, he said, pressure is obviously exerted on the
democratic opposition and free press. In particular, he mentioned the
refusal to register the PARNAS party. Russia has invited OSCE experts to
ascertain the needs of the mission of observers for elections. It is
important that Moscow extends an official invitation for it without any
restrictions, the US State Department official said.
He also stressed there are concerns about attacks on the freedom of
press and assembly, the rule of law. In this connection Melia highlighted
the unsolved murder of journalist Paul Klebnikov, human rights activist
Natalia Estimirova, corruption, as well as the Magnitsky case.
He also said there is restriction of the freedom of assembly for the
members of such groups as the Strategy-31 (All-Russian civic movement in
defence of freedom of assembly), for defenders of the Khimki forest and a
number of movements that bring together representatives of non-traditional
sexual orientation.
Melia also said he hoped that Russia would adopt an amendment to
legislation on the peaceful religious groups. However, Melia said,
cooperation with NGOs helps gather information on the situation in the
Russian society.