Moscow, April 4, 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Russia's lower house of parliament today failed to elect its own Human Rights commissioner. Legislators decided to postpone the vote indefinitely.
Russian news agencies report that all the seven proposed candidates obtained far short of the necessary two thirds majority.
Among the candidates was president Boris Yeltsin's nominee, deputy Justice minister Lyudmila Zavadskaya, who received 109 votes. Communist nominee Oleg Mironov received 245 votes.
Human rights activist and Duma deputy Sergei Kovalyov received 64 votes. Kovalyov held the position in the past, but was dismissed following his strong criticism of Russian conduct in breakaway Chechnya.
Russian news agencies report that all the seven proposed candidates obtained far short of the necessary two thirds majority.
Among the candidates was president Boris Yeltsin's nominee, deputy Justice minister Lyudmila Zavadskaya, who received 109 votes. Communist nominee Oleg Mironov received 245 votes.
Human rights activist and Duma deputy Sergei Kovalyov received 64 votes. Kovalyov held the position in the past, but was dismissed following his strong criticism of Russian conduct in breakaway Chechnya.