U.S. officially expresses concern over the situation around Russia's opposition activist

The United States has officially expressed concern over opposition member Leonid Razvozzhayev's situation to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

U.S. Embassy to Russia press attache Joseph Kruzich told Interfax on Thursday they had expressed concern to Russian Foreign Ministry Ombudsman for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law Konstantin Dolgov and asked for careful investigation of the issue.

The diplomat said the U.S. was concerned over a series of arrests and measures taken against the participants in the May 6 rally and opposition members, among them Alexei Navalny, Sergei Udaltsov, Konstantin Lebedev and Leonid Razvozzhayev.

There have been credible reports over the past few days about Leonid Razvozzhayev, such as statements by the UNHCR Office and human rights defenders who visited him in prison, Kruzich said.

He said they were alarmed with those reports and continued to closely monitor the case.

The U.S. supports the right of every Russian citizen to the freedom of opinion and assembly irrespective of one's political viewpoint, the diplomat said.

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