asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they will make representations to the Government of Russia concerning the case for a full investigation into the murder of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

My Lords, the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Minister for Europe have all called for a thorough investigation into the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. EU leaders repeated this call during their meeting with President Putin at the Lahti summit on 20 October. The Russian prosecutor-general has taken charge of the criminal investigation, which I hope will bring those responsible for this terrible and troubling crime to justice.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer, but I am not wholly persuaded by it. Over the past six years, no fewer than 12 journalists have been murdered in Russia. In not a single case has anyone been brought to justice. What representations have the Government made in those previous cases, and why does the Minister have so much confidence that this one will be resolved?

My Lords, let me start by saying that I am not confident that it will be resolved, but I expect to see a serious attempt to resolve it. We have had regular, open and frank discussions with Russia on human rights and the murders of other journalists; we routinely have such discussions through structured EU and bilateral dialogues and through ongoing contact at all levels with the Russian Administration. FCO Ministers have met a number of Russian NGOs as well this year and discussed their and our concerns with Russian Ministers. We fund, through the FCO, projects to provide financial support to the NGOs that are involved in the training and work of journalists.

My Lords, Anna Politkovskaya most annoyed the formal and informal powers that be in Russia in her reporting of events in the north Caucasus—in Chechnya, in particular, but also in North Ossetia, South Ossetia and elsewhere. Are the Government doing their best to ensure that the deep corruption of the Russian army, which she exposed, and the appalling behaviour of the local authorities throughout those troubled republics are not lost sight of, that the OSCE continues to pay attention to them, that the Council of Europe, of which Russia is a member, continues to cover them, and that we do not allow the Russian authorities to continue to behave in such an appalling way in that region?

My Lords, we try to exert as much influence as we can in routine meetings and special bilateral meetings on all these issues. We also do our best to ensure that the Council of Europe’s decisions are binding on Russia, as they are on all others. I may stand corrected on the figures, but I think that there are nine outstanding issues still to be resolved. We will not stop in this argument. Human rights are a fundamental issue and are raised at every opportunity.

My Lords, many will notice that the Russian authorities do not welcome independent voices on the Chechnya issue, on which Anna Politkovskaya was working at the time of her death. We have given a lot of support in the past to freedom of the press in Russia through the British Council and through the Know How Fund, and the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is about to open in Oxford. Can my noble friend tell us that we will continue to encourage—indeed, that we will expand the encouragement and support that we give directly to—Russian journalists who are working for freedom of the press in that country?

My Lords, I give that assurance straightforwardly. It is part of our forward programme and has to remain part of it. The burden of the issues raised by the noble Lord, Lord Giddens, in his Question shows why that is the right thing to do.

My Lords, does the Minister agree also that the worrying reduction of the freedom of the press in Russia continues apace, not only in these tragic murders, which have to be investigated, but in incidents behind the scenes, including much harassment of journalists all the time? The legislation in the Duma is inadequate for the real protection of a free press, which is essential to expose criminality and wrongdoing, as well as terrorism. What will the Government do to make the extra points to convince the Russian Government of the need for new legislation in the Duma?

My Lords, in the discussions that I have described, which go on consistently, Ministers and officials have tried to emphasise that across the whole canvas of human rights there needs to be real development and a cessation of the push-back against many of the NGOs—certainly, in the areas of journalism and freedom of the press, that could not be clearer. We will continue to argue that human rights dialogue is absolutely vital. There has been progress in some areas, and it is critical that that does not slip back.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Giddens, is right to imply that the record on the murder of outspoken journalists in Moscow and Russia is miserable. Will the Minister keep us up to date with the progress that he and his colleagues make in ensuring that human rights values are upheld in the Russian Federation? We all recognise that Russia is a difficult place to govern. I am sure that he is aware that a $1 million reward is out for any information about the murder of this lady. One of the Moscow newspapers said that she,

“looked evil straight in the eye”.

Unfortunately, of course, she looked evil in the eye and ultimately lost the battle for her life. Does the Minister accept that that is a fine epitaph to an obviously wonderful crusading journalist?

My Lords, I do. I am horrified by the murder, as I suspect all Members of the House will be. It was described by Vladimir Putin as a crime of loathsome brutality, although I must say that he went on to say that he did not believe that she had had a huge impact. We have said that it is a terrible crime. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has said that we condemn the murder and call for a thorough investigation into it. We will continue our work. As I said, we are supporting NGOs working to promote media freedom. This year, we have supported a project with the International Federation of Journalists and the Russian Union of Journalists to promote media independence and capacity. I make that point because it is incumbent on us, apart from deploring a loathsome crime, to support those who carry on the fight for which she gave her life.