MOSCOW, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Moscow to discuss U.N. sanctions against North Korea, criticized the Russian government on several issues.
Rice's remarks to reporters on press freedoms, Russia's law for foreign private groups and tensions with neighboring Georgia came as she traveled to urge enforcement of the U.N. Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea a week ago in response to its Oct. 9 nuclear test, The New York Times said Sunday.
Rice said the future of a free Russian press concerned the United States, particularly in light of the assassination of a Russian journalist who was critical of President Vladimir Putin's administration.
She said she would ask Kremlin leaders to explain the enforcement of a new law requiring foreign nongovernmental organizations to register with the government, making it difficult for NGOs to operate, the Times said.
Rice said she would urge Moscow to guard against increasing conflict with Georgia, which escalated after Georgia detained four Russian military personnel for suspected espionage.
Regarding North Korea, Rice said she doubted reports that the North's leader, Kim Jong-il, expressed regret for ordering the nuclear test and pledged not to detonate another.
