Source: HRO.org (info), 25/06/12

· Human rights defenders

On 25 June chair of the Presidential Human Rights Council Mikkhail Fedotov told Interfax that two more Russian human rights defenders, Valentin Gefter and Boris Pustyntsev, have announced their departure from the Council. According to Mikhail Fedotov, at 24 remaining members the Council is still quorate. Fedotov also said that several other idividuals had told him they might quit the Council. The number of those who have left the Council is now 14. Most of these took this step after Vladimir Putin was elected President. Head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Ludmila Alekseeva decided to leave the Council because she disagreed with the new selection procedures introduced for members of the Council, Radio Liberty reports.