Russia will not admit criticisms of its human rights record if these are used as levers in foreign bargaining in ecological or economic matters, President Vladimir Putin said in Moscow Thursday. "Russia also has its own conceptions of how human rights are observed around the world, including in counterterrorism operations, and how these rights are observed in specific regions and countries where we have significant interests," he said at a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. Russia was, however, open to a "constructive dialogue with the international community on human rights", the Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying. Among other areas, international rights organizations have consistently charged Russian forces with abuses against civilians during the military campaign against Islamic militants in Chechnya.
