Rule of Law Assistance for Russia

Answer:   We will spend approximately $43.4 million for democracy assistance in Russia in FY 2005, of which over $11 million is for rule of law programs.

To strengthen the rule of law in Russia, the U.S. provides funding for technical assistance in the areas of legal reform and human rights. U.S. assistance is designed to make Russia’s judicial system more transparent, independent, and efficient through training and exchanges of Russian and American judges, judicial professionals and lawyers in the area of judicial education and governance, ethics, and court administration. For example, the U.S. funds programs conducted by the Russian American Rule of Law Consortium, the ABA’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative, and the Russian American Judicial Partnership to strengthen the rule of law in Russia. We are also working with Russian prosecutors and investigators to develop professional skills to combat transnational crimes. Grants to human rights organizations often include a legal component, helping NGOs which use lawsuits and legislative drafting as tools on behalf of refugees, forced migrants, labor organizations, the disabled, and others. In addition, we are expanding cooperation with leaders in the legal profession to form a strong, independent bar association in Russia, and to mobilize its members to focus particular effort on protecting the rights of vulnerable groups in the population, and in creating the legal climate in which NGOs and community groups can thrive.

2005/575