President meets with Interior Minister

President Yanukovych repeated that he is concerned about the disbanding of the human rights protection department at the ministry and said it should be restored.

Minister Mohylyov informed that pursuant to the instructions of the President of Ukraine he engaged the renowned human rights activist Eduard Bagirov in the MIA board. He also said that Eduard Bagirov was made chairman of a public council for human rights being now created at the Ministry.

Such councils, he said, chaired by prominent human rights activists, would be established in all regional centers and large cities of Ukraine and would perform a broad range of tasks in monitoring human rights protection.

President Yanukovych said that in the future he intends to meet with human rights defenders and discuss with them protection of human rights in Ukraine.

 "We must do everything to protect the rights of citizens and democratic principles in our country", said Viktor Yanukovych.