Russian human rights official resigns after denouncing Kremlin-backed youth group
By APFriday, July 30, 2010
Russian official resigns over youth group comments
MOSCOW — President Dmitry Medvedev’s human rights adviser has resigned after a Kremlin-backed youth organization threatened her with a libel suit for her harsh criticism.
The Nashi movement, which gained notoriety for street protests and political pranks against Kremlin critics, said it welcomed Ella Pamfilova’s resignation Friday after eight years as head of the presidential human rights council.
Pamfilova has harshly criticized the movement. The group threatened to sue her after she said last week that its activists “pawned their souls to the devil.” She also told Ekho Moskvy radio that she was “scared that these guys would come to power one day.”
The Russian opposition has claimed Nashi activists assaulted and intimidated its leaders.
