Posted on 06/29/2012 8:20:36 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency has prompted an exodus from Russia’s presidential Civil Society and Human Rights Council. Reuters reports that no fewer than fourteen people have left the council since Putin’s controversial election, under protest that Kremlin intervention “was making its work pointless.” Lyudmila Alexeyeva, the most recent member to resign, told reporters she was leaving because of the recent decision by the Kremlin to select new council members through an online contest. The group, which is normally made up of 40 members, now runs the risk of having to disband if it drops below the quorum of 20 people. The organization has been responsible for highlighting cases involving human rights abuses, including the 2009 death in prison of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, and objected to the recent law increasing fines for unsanctioned protests.
Is this the Russian Civil Rights Union?
I bet the Obama administration is paying keen attention to that.
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