Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov meets with Commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks

Implementation of “Accessible environment” programme and programmes aimed at resocialization of citizens serving a sentence in places of imprisonment were discussed at a meeting between Tatarstan Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov and Commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks on April 4.

The meeting took place at Tatarstan Government House with participation of Commissioner for human rights in RT Saria Saburskaya, and a representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in RT Radik Vakhitov.

Ildar Khalikov thanked Nils Muiznieks for interest towards Tatarstan. He briefly told about economic potential of republic, projects being realised in most perspective economic sectors, such as oil production, petrochemistry and engineering.

Ildar Khalikov noted that republic had experience in peaceful co-existence of different nations and confessions. In particular, he mentioned the House of people’s friendship opened in 2012. Multiple meetings for delegations from different regions, countries of the near abroad and far abroad with activists of national diaspora living in Tatarstan are held there. Ildar Khalikov continued that the World Congress of Tatars also carries out much work in this area.

Commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks stressed that it is important to understand current situation with ensuring of human rights in Russia and its entities. He said that Tatarstan was the second city after St.Petersburg he visited.

Commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe and Tatarstan Prime Minister discussed current state of places of imprisonment, conditions provided for citizens in pre-trial detention facilities. According to Ildar Khalikov, programmes aimed at resocialization of citizens who served a sentence in places of imprisonment are being worked out in republic.

Tatarstan Prime Minister said that European experience in such issues as decrease of recidivism, prevention of law-breaking, opportunities to keep families with citizens serving a sentence is interesting for Tatarstan.

Head of Tatarstan Government also told about “Accessible environment” programme, noting that Tatarstan was a pilot region to implement the project. The programme is being realised under terms of co-financing at the expense of Russian and Tatarstan budgets. He told about events being performed under the programme.

Ildar Khalikov said that all Universiade objects underwent certification for compliance with requirements of the programme “Accessible environment”.

Ildar Khalikov continued that a pilot GLONASS project for adaptation of the visually impaired would be launched in Tatarstan.