President Vladimir Putin of Russia (right) and Speaker of the State Duma Gennday Seleznev (left) preside at the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia (right) and Speaker of the State Duma Gennday Seleznev (left) preside at the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia (right) and Speaker of the State Duma Gennday Seleznev (left) preside at the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia presides at the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and delegates of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia discuss a document in the run-up to the opening ceremony of the Forum. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Speaker of the State Duma Gennady Seleznev (right), Russia's President Vladimir Putin (centre), and chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva (right) preside at the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva get ready for the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva get ready for the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva get ready for the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and chairwomen of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Aleskeyeva discuss the notes sent to the presidium by the participants of the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The opening ceremony was held in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and chairwomen of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Aleskeyeva read notes sent to the presidium by the participants of the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The opening ceremony was held in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva puts something down as President Vladimir Putin talks to her during the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia (left) listens to the chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva's whispering during the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The event was held in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva applaudes as President Vladimir Putin of Russia finishes his address to the participants of the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions which was held in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Chairwoman of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmilla Alekseyeva is seen in this photo among the delegates of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russia. The Civil Forum was opened in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's Constitution Court Chairman Marat Baglay and HumanRights Commissioner Oleg Mironov shake hands during the opening session of the Civil Forum of the Public Associations and Unions of Russian. The opening session took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of Russian Non-Governmental Unions and Associations in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (right) and State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev (left) attend the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. The ceremony was held in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (right), State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev (left), and head of the 'Efficient Policies Foundation' Gleb Pavlovsky (centre) attend the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. THe ceremony was held in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (centre) readies to address the participants of the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. The Forum took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. The Forum took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (right) attends the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. The Forum took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev (left) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin (right) attend the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. The Forum took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Political science expert, head of the 'Efficient Policies Foundation' Gleb Pavlovsky is interviewed before the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. The Forum took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Political Science expert, Head of the 'Efficient Policies Foundation' is interviewed before the opening ceremony of the Civil Forum of the Non-Governmental Associations and Unions of Russia. The ceremony took place in the Kremlin Congress Palace.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (right), State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev (centre) take part in the opening of the Civil Forum in the Kremlin Palace.

[English translation in progress (1)]