The Russian State Duma has voted to accept the resignation of presidential human rights ombudswoman Ella Pamfilova.
In a vote on March 25, the Duma accepted Pamfilova's request that she be removed as of March 28. She filed the request in connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent decision to appoint her to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
Duma deputy Vladimir Pligin, head of the parliament's Constitutional Law Committee, noted that Pamfilova "enhanced the clarity and humanity" of the ombudsman's post during her two years in office. She was also praised by Communist Party deputy Ivan Melnikov.
Officials with the Duma factions of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and the A Just Russia party told Interfax they would support Pamfilova if she sought to chair the CEC.
Pamfilova has been a respected rights activist for more than two decades and is a strong advocate of constructive dialogue between the state and civil-society groups.
