Russian Duma slams US for human rights abuse, double standard

The Russian State Duma on Monday accused the United States of violating human rights and applying a double standard on the issue. "We have spoilt the Americans," Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee, said at a special session on U.S. human rights. Noting that the United States violates human rights in military operations in other countries, Pushkov said Washington has adopted a double standard when judging other countries on human rights. The United States, instead of only teaching other countries how to protect human rights, should do a good job by itself in this regard, said the Russian official. Pushkov also slammed the United States for its one-sided position on the Syria crisis, which he said has aroused domestic conflict in the Middle East country. He said the U.S. media "simply serve authorities" as they told lies about the Libyan situation during the uprising against its former leader Muammar Gaddafi last year. Also on Monday, the State Duma advised the Russian Foreign Ministry to work with foreign non-government organizations in monitoring the U.S. human rights practice, and counter Washington's attempts to use human rights as an excuse to impose political pressure on other countries and thus interfere in their domestic affairs.