Ombudsman Finds Support From Yabloko, Rights Activists

By The Moscow Times

June 29, 2010

Leading human rights activists and the liberal Yabloko party have expressed support for ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, who has come under fire from United Russia after criticizing a police crackdown on a banned rally in Moscow, Interfax reported.

A letter signed by a number of human rights activists, including Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Sergei Kovalyov and Lev Ponomaryov, denounced on Friday the campaign against Lukin as “disgusting.” Yabloko expressed its support for the ombudsman in a separate statement.

United Russia accused Lukin of overstepping his authority by criticizing the police's decision to detain more than 150 opposition activists on Triumfalnaya Ploshchad on May 31.

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