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Committee recommends to elect new ombudsperson on March 18

Among the candidates are Ella Pamfilova, Yelena Afanasyeva and Oleg Smolin

MOSCOW, March 11. /ITAR-TASS/. The Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Development under the State Duma lower house of Russia's parliament recommended to elect Russia's new ombudsperson on March 18.

Among the candidates are Ella Pamfilova, Yelena Afanasyeva and Oleg Smolin. The term in office of previous ombudsman Vladimir Lukin expired on February 18.

"The committee does not handle the issues of who might be elected; its functions are technical," head of the committee Vladimir Pligin said. The appointment of ombudsperson belongs to exclusive competence of the State Duma.

On February 13, President Vladimir Putin suggested Ella Pamfilova for the post of Russian ombudsperson. On February 24, the presidium of the United Russia faction supported her candidacy.

Other United Russia candidates Nikolai Bulayev and Pavel Krasheninnikov withdrew their candidacies.

Pamfilova was backed by the Federation Council, the Public Chamber and A Just Russia faction.

The Communists and the Liberal Democratic Party insisted on their own candidates. LDPR members stated that they would vote for Yelena Afanasyeva. The communists nominated First Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Education Oleg Smolin for the position.