Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase support for civil society and human rights defenders in Russia.

The UK continues to support human rights and civil society in Russia. We speak out on human rights abuses, support civil society and human rights defenders, attend trials, and press Russia to adhere to its international commitments. In addition, we continue to make significant funding available to support civil society in Russia at a time when Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and charities are facing growing pressure. We currently fund a broad portfolio of projects to support human rights, civil society and democracy.