Press Release, 11.07.2016

YABLOKO Chair Emilia Slabunova proposed proposes to the Russian President Vladimir Putin to replace the failed Ombudsman for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov with Yevgeny Bunimovich who is the Moscow Ombudsman for Children’s Rights at present.

“Yevgeny Bunimovich is the type of person who can establish a dialogue with society, he will be able to transfer the solution of difficult problems of protection of children’s rights from the present speculative politicised level into practical deeds. I think that the candidacy of Yevgeny Bunimovich for the post of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights will be optimal – both politically and socially, and most importantly for the protection of the rights of the child,” runs the statement by the YABLOKO leader.

Since 2009 Yevgeny Bunimovich has been the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Moscow. From 2012 to 2015 he headed the Coordinating Council of Ombudsmen for Children’s Rights of the Central Federal District of Russia. From 1997 to 2009 he was an MP in the Moscow City Duma from the YABLOKO party and since 2001 was Chairman of the Commission on Science and Education. Bunimovich is Candidate of Pedagogic Sciences and Honoured Teacher of Russia. He is also poet, Vice-President of Russian PEN Centre and member of YABLOKO’s Federal Political Committee.

Emilia Slabunova stressed that Yevgeny Bunimovich was one of the most respected teachers in Russia. His teaching experience, mathematics textbooks he wrote and his expert assessment of new training programmes, optimisation of the State Final Examination are recognised by the professional community and parents. His creative nature, pronounced civic engagement, impeccable personal and public biography make Bunimovich one of the most honest and principled men of our time, Slabunova said.

Earlier, a number of media reported on the resignation of the present Russian Ombudsmen for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov.

Pavel Astakhov was in the spotlight of public attention after his meeting with the children who survived in a storm in Syamozero Lake, Karelia. During his visit to the hospital, the Ombudsman addressed a child-survivor with a question:”Well then, how was the swim?”

After that, a petition was published in Change.org calling the President to dismiss Astakhov, the petition was signed by over 150,000 people in a few days.