The Russian State Duma has elected Tatyana Moskalkova, a retired police general, as the new presidential human rights ombudswoman, the lower house of parliament's website reported.
In the secret ballot held Friday, 323 lawmakers voted in favor of Moskalkova, 60, a nominee from the A Just Russia party. Eleven voted against and one abstained, according to the live broadcast of the election.
Throughout the election procedure, Moskalkova accused the West of attempting to put pressure on Russia via a human rights agenda. “An ombudsman has all the instruments to counter such things,” she said.
Moskalkova started her career in the Internal Ministry in 1984 and spent more that 20 years in law enforcement. She became a State Duma deputy in 2007.
After being elected, Moskalkova promised to investigate an attack on a group of Russian and foreign journalists and human rights activists in Russia's republic of Ingushetia near the border with Chechnya in March. Masked attackers severely beat the journalists and set fire to their vehicle.
Moskalkova replaces Ella Pamfilova, who was appointed the new head of the Central Election Commission this month.
