The Kremlin has denied reports that Children?€™s Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov has been fired from his post, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Friday.
?€?The president hasn't signed any presidential decrees [firing him], I don't know who has written a resignation letter or whether anyone has written one at all. So far I can say only one thing: Astakhov continues to work,?€? Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, RIA Novosti reported.
Peskov said that no new candidates for the post of children's ombudsman are currently being considered.
A number of Russian media outlets reported Thursday that Astakhov had resigned, citing unidentified sources close to the Kremlin. ?€?In the coming days, he [Astakhov] will leave on vacation and will not return to his post,?€? an unnamed source told the RBC news outlet.
The news came shortly after the ombudsman drew public criticism for asking a young survivor of a deadly boating accident, ?€?how was your swim??€?
A online public petition asking to dismiss Astakhov after the statement has gathered more than 150,000 signatures.