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Russian Ombudsman Proposes Law to Protect Human Rights in Crimea

Tatyana Moskalkova

Russia's human rights ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova has submitted a report to the Federation Council that outlined problems in the protection of human rights for residents of Crimea and Sevastopol, her press service reported Tuesday.

The recently elected human rights ombudswoman spoke to Russian parliament's upper house, outlining the trends and major issues in the field of human rights in 2015.

According to Moskalkova, more than 100,000 people — typically former soldier and their families — living in territories of disbanded military camps are unable to register at health clinics or legalize the status of their land or property.

She added that “a large number of people who came to the peninsula after a state coup in Ukraine” face difficulties in obtaining citizenship, the press statement reported.

The human rights ombudswoman also spoke of discontent in Crimea with the rising cost of food, the overcrowded pretrial detention centers and problems with the issuing of certificates on the rehabilitation of the Crimean Tatars.

A former police major-general, Tatyana Moskalkova was elected as the new presidential human rights ombudswoman in April. This position was previously held by Ella Pamfilova, the new head of the Central Election Commission.

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