Human rights security

Russia human rights: New ombudsman is former police general

The Russian parliament has controversially appointed a former police general as the country's new human rights ombudsman.

MPs overwhelmingly backed Tatyana Moskalkova for the job, despite concerns that she is an interior ministry insider rather than an independent advocate of human rights.

Human rights groups and activists have criticised the choice.

Ms Moskalkova is a member of the Kremlin-friendly Just Russia party.

She used her confirmation speech to lash out at Western critics of Russia's human rights record.

And she said veterans would be among those whose rights she would particularly seek to protect, as she was assuming office in the year of the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Union's entry into World War Two.