Mr. Lukin, formerly a diplomat, a co-leader of the liberal Yabloko party and vice-speaker of the previous State Duma (parliament's lower house), was suggested to the post of Russian envoy for human rights by the president.
Mr. Lukin also urged the establishment of a "single human rights zone in Russia." He recalled that human rights ombudsmen worked in as few as 27 of the 89 Russian regions thus far. Vladimir Lukin deemed it necessary to accomplish the process.
He believes that the provinces should have their own ombudsmen or the representative offices of the federal envoy for human rights.
Mr. Lukin spoke up in favour of the former option and said his staff was working out relative amendments to the law.
Mr. Lukin pointed to the legal education of the population as an important aspect of his activity. "Citizens must know their rights and duties. However, they receive very vague knowledge of the subject," said Vladimir Lukin.
Mr. Lukin said his staffers were working out a legal education program, which he wanted to make part of the school course in social science. This issue is yet to be discussed with the education ministry.
