Yana Lantratova has been appointed Russia’s human rights commissioner. Her candidacy was approved by the State Duma.
The new ombudswoman is a 37-year-old lawmaker from the A Just Russia party.
The post had previously been held by Tatyana Moskalkova for two five-year terms. Under the law, she cannot be appointed for another term.
Lantratova was involved in the harassment of opposition figures, observed the Crimea “referendum” in 2014, and, according to an investigation by the BBC and Important Stories, was involved in taking from Ukraine a girl who was later adopted by the family of A Just Russia leader Sergey Mironov.
Experts and political analysts say Lantratova’s appointment as ombudswoman signals a further weakening of the institution, which is increasingly turning into part of the administrative vertical.