Ella Pamfilova's retirement accepted

President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev has accepted retirement of Ella Pamfilova, chair of the Human Rights Board under the President. This was reported by the Kremlin's press service.

Natalia Timakova, Mr Medvedev's press secretary, has confirmed the news that Ms Pamfilova filed a retirement application, and the President agreed with her decision.

"The President has accepted her retirement," Ms Timakova said. She has also emphasized that "unfortunately, this topic arose not once," the ITAR-TASS reports.

According to the press secretary, Dmitri Medvedev has thanked Ella Pamfilova for her long-term and fruitful work for the benefits of civil society and defence of human rights, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported earlier that today Ella Pamfilova, chair of the Board on Human rights and Promotion to Development of Civil Society under the President of the Russian Federation, announced her decision to leave the post. According to her story, it was her individual and independent decision; however, her colleagues doubt.

She recommended Alexander Auzan, head of the Institute "Public Agreement" and a member of the above Board since 2002, to her former position. Mr Auzan himself has not yet decided.