Press Release, 29.03.2016

Ella Pamfilova in her final report on the post of the Commissioner for Human Rights addressing the State Duma of the Russian Federation called deprivation of YABLOKO’s Lev Shlosberg of his deputy’s mandate by the Legislative Assembly of the Pskov Region and removal of Galina Shirshina from the post of Mayor of Petrozavodsk an attempt of the authorities to get rid of the competitors.

Pamfilova stated that she was concerned about the attempts of several regional heads to get rid of their possible rivals “in advance”, rather than openly competing at elections.

Ella Pamfilova cited as an example the situation with Lev Schlossberg and Galina Shirshina

“On 25 December, 2015, Galina Shirshina, head of Petrozavodsk, was dismissed from office by the deputies of the City Council for “improper performance of her duties”. A similar scenario was used for dismissal of Yu. I. Bobryshev, Mayor of Novgorod in the Novgorod region, as well as, deprivation of powers of Lev Shlosberg, deputy of the Pskov Regional Assembly,” Pamfilova stated in her final report.

The report of the Ombudsman consisted of three chapters. The first described the situation with the protection of human rights and freedoms in Russia in 2015, as well as reflected the situation with human rights in the country and showed the impact of the crisis on human rights and freedoms.

The second section of the report enlisted the most pressing problems in protection and restoration of human rights and gave definite examples of the Ombudsman’s participation in the hearings of these cases.

The third section dealt with the main results of the performance of the Ombudsman in dealing with appeals of citizens and organisations. In conclusion, Pamfilova sets out recommendations and proposals to state bodies, local self-government bodies and officials so that to improve the system and ensure human rights and freedoms in Russia.

Previously, the office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation asked Lev Shlosberg to provide the materials related to deprivation of his deputy proxies, including the court case file.