A delegation of Russian officials is expected to visit the Guantanamo prison in Cuba to see inmate Ravil Mingazov, who is incarcerated there. The tentative date for the visit is January 17, 2014. The announcement as to the visit of Russian diplomats came in December from the Russian Foreign Ministry’s human rights envoy Konstantin Dolgov.

According to Mr. Dolgov, the main reason for the Russian delegation’s visit is to meet with Mr. Mingazov and to gather information as to his conditions of confinement. The Russian Foreign Ministry takes the position that Mr. Mingazov has been unlawfully deprived of liberty for a number of years. Mr. Dolgov has said that Ravil Mingazov does not have access to a fair judicial process, which constitutes a violation of human rights under international law.

The Russian diplomat indicated that Russian officials intend to discuss with their American counterparts Mr. Mingazov’s return to Russia. The ultimate goal of the diplomats is to ascertain that Mr. Mingazov’s rights are respected and that the conditions of his confinement are humane.

Mr. Dolgov indicated that Mr. Mingazov through an attorney already consented to meeting with Russian officials; however, the American side for a long period of time could not ensure the Russian envoys’ access to the prisoner.

Aside from addressing Ms. Mingazov’s particular case, the delegation intends to look into a more expansive issue concerning the Gitmo camp. Russian diplomats intend to raise the issue of closing the detention camp with American authorities.

In the recent few months, the American President Barack Obama stated that the Guanta namo prison compromises the standing of the United States as a guarantor of human rights on the international arena, threatening American interests. In the words of the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, the Russian government shares the view that the Guantanamo facility is a blemish on America’s reputation.

Mr. Dolgov has indicated that Russia is expecting a final confirmation from American officials as to whether the Russian delegates can visit the prison facility in January.

Ravil Mingazov, a Russian citizen, was apprehended by agents of the U.S. Secret Service in the country of Pakistan in 2002. No official charges were brought against him as of this time. According to Russian diplomats, the Russian side tried repeatedly to gain consular access to Mr. Mingazov. The efforts were not successful so far. Previously, American officials refused the Russian side’s requests to see Mr. Mingazov for the purported reason that the inmate refused to meet with the Russian officials.