(RFE/RL)
BRUSSELS, March 15, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- The European Parliament, sitting in Strasbourg, today discussed an attack earlier this year on Galina Kozlova, an indigenous-peoples rights activist in Russia's Marii El Republic.
EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes, representing the EU executive, condemned the attack.
"The commission regrets the violent attack on Galina Kozlova, which took place on January 25 in the capital of Mari republic, and I express my sympathy to her, to her family, and my best wishes for a speedy recovery from her injuries," Kroes said.
Kroes called for a "through and speedy" investigation and said the situation in Marii El will be raised during the next EU-Russia human rights dialogue on May 3.
The European Parliament is expected later today to adopt a resolution, backed by all major political groups, condemning the continued violence against cultural figures and journalists in Marii El.
During the debate, representatives of the three largest groups -- the conservatives, socialists, and liberals -- all attacked Russia's record on minority rights and media freedom and asked the EU to raise the issues at the upcoming EU-Russia summit.
