An invaluable contribution to strengthening the principles of democracy and the formation of an active civil society in our country is made by the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights.

Within almost ten years, the Council was headed by Mikhail Alexandrovich Fedotov, demonstrating a vivid example of serving the interests of Russian citizens, the principles of legality and justice. The human rights activist’s work in this post has earned him respect from the colleagues and recognition in society.

I would like to thank Mikhail Alexandrovich for the effective interaction, support and cooperation with the institution of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, which is becoming more and more productive and diverse from year to year.

I am sure that Valery Aleksandrovich Fadeev will continue and strengthen the serious work that the Council has been doing all these years, based on the main principle of human rights protection — a person, his rights and freedoms are always at the forefront!