New members of the presidential human rights council will now be determined, in part, by an online vote.
Candidates who receive the most online votes will still need to get approval by the council's head, Mikhail Fedotov, Interfax reported.
The new procedure, drafted by the presidential administration, is to come into effect later this month. The new rules won't be applied to the incumbent members of the council.
The council is in need of new members after the exodus of several prominent members, including rights champion Svetlana Gannushkina, political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin and Institute of Contemporary Development director Igor Yurgens.
Moscow Helsinki Group head Lyudmila Alexeyeva is still undecided about whether to quit, she told Interfax.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
