Harare, Moscow in human rights deal

ZIMBABWE and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding on the protection of human rights between the two countries that are suffering from illegal sanctions imposed by some Western countries.

A five-member delegation from Russia headed by Mr Ilya Chechelnitskii, the first deputy head of staff of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, yesterday met the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission officials at their offices where they agreed to strengthen relations in human rights protection before signing the MoU.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Chechelnitskii said the MoU signified the relations between Russia and Zimbabwe in the field of human rights protection.

“The relations between Russia and Zimbabwe were established as united approaches to the sphere of the protection of human rights for the citizens of Zimbabwe and Russia,” he said.

“Equally important, the protection of social rights, the right to land and environmental rights are part of today’s memorandum of understanding, which has been signed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian

Federation and the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, sets a new stage in relation with our State human rights protection bodies.

“It contains 10 main clauses which firstly include mutual help on the application of citizens to the Russian Human Rights Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission on the right and the protection of rights of the citizens of Russia and Zimbabwe.”

Mr Chechelnitskii said there was a growing interest of Russia in Zimbabwe as many students from Zimbabwe came to study in Russia.

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