Russia's tribute to victims of political repression

Russia paid tribute to victims of political repression on Monday as the country's human rights chief called for more action in recognising and protecting people's rights. A small crowd, joined by Russia's Human Rights Commissioner Oleg Mironov, gathered in central Moscow to lay red and white flowers on a monument created in memory of those who suffered political repression. "I hope that such a time will come when on (this occasion) every year the president of our country will stand before the population and talk about the problems of human rights and about how to protect them," Mironov told journalists. The memorial rock stands on the site of what was once a monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet Union's feared secret police. Behind the monument looms Lubyanka – the headquarters of the former KGB, Reuters announces. "Our task now is to help people," Mironov said. "Unfortunately in Russia there are millions and millions of deprived people".