Amendments to law on human rights commissioner adopted by State Duma in second reading
On 25 March, the State Duma adopted a package of amendments significantly extending powers of human rights commissioners at the federal and regional levels in the second reading. The amendments imply changing the Federal Constitutional Law On the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation and a range of others.
The adopted amendments significantly extend powers of the federal human rights commissioner related to interaction with regional authorities, as well as empower the commissioner to provide regional ombudsmen with organisational, legal, advisory and other assistance within his or her mandate.
436 deputies voted for amendments to the federal constitutional law and 443 gave their votes for amendments to other laws.
The third reading in the State Duma is to be held on 27 March 2015.