This week is the first time in five years that a British foreign secretary has made an official visit to Russia. David Miliband's trip was referred to by some commentators as a "chance to bury the hatchet" in a repaired international relationship, others reported it as a "tense" icebreaking trip which underlined the lack of progress in "bedevilled UK-Russian relations".

The priorities for the trip had been announced in advance, with the focus on Iran's nuclear ambitions, the conflict in Afghanistan, co-operation in the global response to the financial crisis and climate change. Clearly missing from the list was the suppression of democracy, the absence of the rule of law, the erosion of civil society, continuing human rights violations - no great surprise there then.

Despite comparisons with Hilary Clinton's "reset" visit in March, Britain has an obstacle to rapprochement which cannot be glossed over - namely the murder of my friend Alexander Litvinenko. His poisoning in November 2006 started an exchange of diplomatic expulsions and hostile gestures between Russia and the UK, for which the media's favourite description has been "tit-for-tat", which obscures the very serious fact that a British citizen was brutally murdered on the streets of London and his killers are yet to be brought to justice.

On the third anniversary of his death, it is distressing that the prime suspect in his murder still cannot be investigated, and Miliband's trip does not seem to have brought the prospect of justice for Litvinenko's family any closer. It is a disturbing continuation of a pattern whereby prominent critics of the Russian and Chechen authorities who dare to speak out on out human rights abuses are assassinated with impunity. Another friend of mine, Anna Politkovskaya, has also seen the three-year anniversary of her death marked with the continued absence of accountability for her cold-blooded murder.

Miliband's own rationale for his visit acknowledges that Russia is a world power and a major trading partner, the latter being a critical factor, with him reported as saying:  "The wealth of people-to-people contacts and the dynamic business links which have grown between Britain and Russia over the last 20 years make political engagement all the more important." While business factors are understandably a strong consideration for any government, it is of grave concern that it comes at a cost of ignoring human rights violations and Russia' s intent on playing power politics. With Prime Minister Putin just this week warning of a repeat of 2006's winter gas shortage because of disputes with Ukraine, we should not be under any illusion that things are getting better.

Even more telling is the apparent shift in diplomatic rhetoric, with the "hard-headed engagement" of Miliband circa 2008 and the Russo-Georgian war replaced by a new formulation of "respectful disagreement". The worrying implication however, is that Britain and the EU will move away from "engagement" with Russia's problems and rather "agree to disagree" and just turn a blind eye. The plight of intimidated journalists and harassed NGOs, and the marginalisation of people in Chechnya and Ingushetia are all too easily passed over when prime importance is given to keeping Russia on side with regards to headline priorities like Iran or energy supplies.

David Miliband is rumoured to be eyeing up the post of European Union foreign policy chief, but he should realise that on trips such as this, he is already representing not just the UK but all those people who so desperately need a voice. Russia must be held to account for the treatment of its own citizens, whether they are in Moscow, Grozny or London.

In the Daily Telegraph this week, Vaclav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic and father of the 1989 anti-soviet "Velvet Revolution" says: "We should not treat the Russians as a special case, as if they were crippled and needing different treatment. We should not for the sake of a good partnership blind ourselves to certain things. We should not sell out on human rights in exchange for oil and gas." This approach is perhaps one that Mr Milliband should adopt.

Ivar Amundsen
Director, Chechnya Peace Forum