Several Russian prominent human rights activists have announced their decision to leave the presidential Human Rights Council after elected president's inauguration on May 7.

      According to "Vedomosti" and "Kommersant" newspapers, about 10 members of the Council are planning to leave the human rights body after President-elect Vladimir Putin takes up his post. Among them such well-known in Russian political circles persons, as the head of Transparency International Russia, Yelena Panfilova, a political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin and the head of the non-government organization of working refugees, Civil Cooperation, Svetlana Gannushkina.

      “I regard Putin as an illegitimate president. I won’t be able to work in his council,” Oreshkin told the press. On April 28, the political analyst was going to read his report on electoral violations during the presidential elections in March, but his speech was rejected under the pretext of the president’s tight schedule.

      Svetlana Gannushkina has also explained her resignation by the presidential elections "untidiness".

      “I think I’ll do much more with my civil activity within my current job,” Yelena Panfilova said.

      However, there are also the Council members who plan to work with the new president after his inauguration. Veteran human rights activist Lyudmila Alekseeva has said she would continue her work in the Council, if she will be invited to the new membership. At the same time, Alekseeva thinks the new Council will change a lot, as the new President surely has his own views on human rights in Russia.

      Earlier, in December 2011, the Council lost human right activist Irina Yasina and journalist Svetlana Sorokina, who left the organization after Russian parliamentary elections.

      The Presidential human rights Council is known for its independent stance but it has no legal authority and had its recommendations ignored in the past. 

Sources: Lenta.ru RIA Novosti Image: kavkaz-forum.ru