European Union president Herman Van Rompuy says Europe is seriously concerned about the difficulties faced by human rights activists and journalists in Russia.
Since 1992, 52 journalists have been killed in Russia. According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, it is the fourth-deadliest country for reporters to work in.
"The situation for human rights defenders and journalists in Russia is of grave concern to the European public at large," Mr Van Rompuy told a briefing following an EU-Russia summit in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.
He spoke to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the EU's concerns over "the climate of impunity, in particular in Chechnya and other areas of the North Caucasus".
Of the 52 journalist murders in Russia since 1992, just three have resulted in convictions.Four journalists have been murdered since Mr Medvedev became president in May 2008.
Globally, 72 journalists were killed in 2009, making it the deadliest year on record for reporters.
There was no criticism from EU leaders at the briefing of a violent crackdown on anti-Kremlin protests yesterday during which more than 150 people were detained by police.
The summit, which ends today, aims to resolve trade and visa disputes between the EU and Russia. It is Mr Medvedev’s first meeting with Mr Van Rompuy since he took over leadership of the EU after the Lisbon Treaty came into effect last year.
Additional reporting: Reuters