Press Release, 27.08.2024

Photo: Olga Tuzhikova. Photo: regional branch of the party

The term of office of the current Human Rights Commissioner for Human Rights in Karelia expires on 12 September. The Yabloko party faction in the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia nominated Olga Tuzhikova, a deputy of the Petrozavodsk City Council from Yabloko, an ecologist and human rights defender, for the post of ombudsperson.

Olga Tuzhikova has three diplomas of higher education: environmental, economic and legal. She also completed a postgraduate study and prepared a candidate’s dissertation in economics. She worked as an industrial ecologist, taught at the university, and has extensive legal practice. In 2021, she was elected as a deputy of the Petrozavodsk City Council as part of the Yabloko party list of candidates.

Yabloko deputy Olga Tuzhikova is defending the rights of residents of the village of Sheltozero, which became notoriously famous by the intention of the authorities and a local businessman to cut down a pine forest: the lawyer successfully defended eco-activist and mother of many children Ekaterina Rayevskaya in court against businessman’s attacks. Another loud case was when Tuzhikova represented the interests of residents of the village of Kindasovo in court: she achieved the cancellation of a decision on the construction of tourist facilities in an ancient village suffering from a large flow of tourists. As a deputy of the Petrozavodsk City Council, Olga Tuzhikova achieved recognition in court of the illegality of waste storage at the main stadium of Petrozavodsk. Tuzhikova also defended in court the honour and dignity of the head of the public organisation Zaonezhye Valentina Sukotova, who was insulted by a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia.

“Comprehensive education, competence, analytical mind, responsibility, a strong sense of justice, empathy and deep compassion, desire and willingness to help – these are the qualities that will allow her to be a reliable defender of the rights of the residents of Karelia,” that is how Emilia Slabunova, the head of the Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of Karelia, comments on Olga Tuzhikova’s candidacy.

Local journalists note that the campaign to nominate candidates for the post of regional human rights ombudsperson is taking place in information silence, because it is advantageous for the authorities of Karelia so that the current ombudsman could maintain the post.