The Foreign Ministry's human rights commissioner was scheduled to visit Guantanamo Bay prison on Friday to meet a Russian inmate who was captured in Pakistan along with other suspected al-Qaida fighters more than 11 years ago.
Commissioner Konstantin Dolgov, who was already in Washington, said that U.S. officials had approved the Friday visit, which is likely to be limited to one day, Interfax reported Thursday.
Dolgov earlier said that the "main idea" of his visit was to meet with Russian citizen Ravil Mingazov.
"We want to check up on his detention conditions, discuss his future fate, his return to Russia or other ways that could end his current 'rightless' situation," Dolgov said.
Pakistani police arrested Mingazov during a raid in 2002, according to Guantanamo files on the prisoner. Mingazov said he had received training at militant camps in Afghanistan.
In April 2013, the U.S. barred a Russian delegation from visiting Mingazov at the base in Cuba on the grounds that the prisoner had refused to meet them.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.