A delegation of the Council of Europe Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities visited Tyumen, Kazan, Krasnodar and Moscow (group 1) and Murmansk and Moscow (group 2) from 16-24 October 2017 to evaluate progress made in the monitoring of the protection of national minorities in the Russian Federation.

This was the fourth visit made by the Advisory Committee to the Russian Federation.  The Advisory Committee held meetings with representatives of the government as well as civil society and national minorities, to discuss the implementation of the Framework Convention with relevant stakeholders.

The delegation included:

Group 1

Mr Craig OLIPHANT, Advisory Committee member elected in respect of the United Kingdom, Ms Petra ROTER, Advisory Committee member elected in respect of Slovenia, Ms Erzsébet SÁNDOR-SZALAY, Advisory Committee member elected in respect of Hungary, and Ms Agnes von MARAVIĆ, Administrator, Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. 

Group 2

Ms Brigitta BUSCH, Advisory Committee member in respect of Austria, Mr Neven ANDJELIĆ, Advisory Committee member in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Marco LEIDEKKER, Head of Secretariat and Ms Adina NICHIFOR, Administrator, Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Following this visit, the Advisory Committee will draw up its fourth opinion on the implementation of the Framework Convention in the Russian Federation, containing specific findings and recommendations for follow-up. The fourth opinion is expected to be adopted in February 2018.

Note: The Russian Federation submitted its Fourth State Report under the Framework Convention in December 2016.