Nominees to become Russian human rights commissioner to be announced on Feb 18
MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - All candidates nominated for the Russian human rights commissioner will be announced on February 18, the day when the term of current commissioner Vladimir Lukin expires.
"The procedure of considering the topic of the Russian human rights commissioner has been launched," State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin told reporters on Thursday following a chamber meeting.
In accordance with the existing law, Lukin's powers as a commissioner expire on February 18, 2014, thus this personnel issue will soon be decided in the State Duma, Naryshkin said. The committee for constitutional law and state construction has been appointed to draft relevant proposals for the State Duma to consider, he said.
According to the law, candidates for the commissioner's position can be submitted by the Russian president, State Duma factions, deputies and self-nomination is possible as well, Naryshkin said.
When commenting on the possible extension of Lukin's powers for a third term, which was reported by mass media outlets, Naryshkin said that this can be done only by changing the existing law - as of now, the commissioner cannot hold the post for more than two terms.
Naryshkin said he did not have any information that someone was drafting such amendments.
