Rights group: Russia bars director

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Russia has clamped down on Human Rights Watch, refusing its executive director, Kenneth Roth, a visa to travel to Moscow, following a 72-page report on Russia's suppression of free speech.

Roth was to release the report in Moscow.

In a statement on the New York-based Human Rights Watch Web site, Roth said that new Russian rules block dissent and interfere with the work of nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs.

"With the new rules, NGOs live under a looming threat of harassment," said Roth. "And this is a serious threat to freedom of expression in Russia."

U.S. State Department Sean McCormack on Wednesday called the prevention of Roth from traveling to Russia "a very unfortunate incident."

"Russia and any country that aspires to the pathway to democracy can only benefit from free, open and peaceful airing of views regardless of whether they are supportive ... or whether it's critical of the government and its policies," McCormack said.

The incident coincided with suggestions by Russian President Vladimir Putin's likely successor Dmitry Medvedev that foreign NGOs -- and the British Council, an international cultural body funded by the British government -- spy on Russia, The Associated Press reported.

In an interview with the weekly Itogi, Medvedev suggested supporting Russian actions that led the British Council to suspend operations at its offices in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, AP reported.

Moscow has said the offices were operating illegally, according to AP. E-mail to a friend

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