MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's interior minister proposed Thursday developing an international convention for the protection of witnesses and victims in criminal cases.
Although Russia has recently implemented a witness protection program that establishes a set of mechanisms to protect victims and witnesses of crimes, much more remains to be done to coordinate international efforts in witness protection.
"The convention will establish a mechanism regulating cooperation between European countries in this sphere," Rashid Nurgaliyev said at an international conference on the protection of rights of victims and witnesses.
The minister said Russia had allocated 949 million rubles ($36.46 million) for the implementation of a federal program on protection of witnesses, victims and collaborators of justice for 2006-2008.
The Interior Ministry has also set up a special witness protection department and drafted a set of regulations designed at ensuring efficient state assistance to victims and witnesses in criminal cases.
"Today, we can ensure adequate protection of witnesses and victims only through coordinated efforts," Nurgaliyev said, adding that society as a whole must be involved in the fight against crime.
