Russia: Chairwoman Steps Down From Human Rights Council

The chairwoman of President Dmitri A. Medvedev’s human rights advisory council abruptly stepped down on Friday, apparently after growing disenchanted with the political situation in Russia. The official, Ella Pamfilova, left, gave no official explanation for her resignation but also offered no public words of support for Mr. Medvedev’s policies. “This is my personal decision; no one coerced me,” she told the Interfax news agency. Mr. Medvedev has promised to strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law in Russia, but he has come under criticism from advocacy groups, which contend that he has carried out few significant changes since he took office in 2008.


(2010-07-30/nytimes)