MOSCOW, March 18 (RAPSI) – Russia's State Duma on Tuesday appointed Ella Pamfilova to the post of Human Rights Ombudsman. The nomination was approved bt Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 23.

Under the law, the president and members of parliament can nominate candidates for the post of human rights ombudsman and submit proposals on possible candidates to the State Duma a month before the expiry of the current ombudsman's term.

Human rights ombudsman can only serve in this position for two terms. Pamfilova will replace Vladimir Lukin, whose second term expired on February 18.

Pamfilova served as a State Duma lawmaker between 1993-1999, a period during which she spearheaded a bill seeking to impose limitations on legislative immunity. In April 2000, Pamfilova joined a human rights commission focusing on the Northern Caucasus. She was once a candidate for the Russian presidency, but earned little support at the polling stations. In July 2002 Pamfilova was appointed chairwoman of Russia's Human Rights Commission. In 2004 after a reshuffle within the Commision, she joined the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights.