Potential new Human Rights Commissioner vocal supporter of the Cheka

The post of Russia's Human Rights Commissioner may be taken up by State Duma Deputy Tatyana Moskalkova, who is a member of the “A Just Russia” party, reports RBC.

Moskalkova is the most likely candidate for the ombudsman position, because she has “experience in defence of human rights” and she belongs to “an opposition party,” say sources within the State Duma.

In April 2015, Deputy Maskalkova suggested renaming the MVD (Interior Ministry) to the VChK. The VChK is the acronym for the “All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution, Speculation, and Sabotage,” also known as the Cheka. The Cheka functioned as a military and security organization for the Bolshevik Party from 1917–1922.

While calling for the renaming of the MVD to the VChK, Maskalkova also suggested that in times of crises, police should be granted “appropriate powers to restore order and preserve the country's peace and security.”

In 2012, after Pussy Riot performed their “Punk Prayer” in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Maskalkova proposed instituting an “assault against morality” law into the Criminal Code. Her proposal, however, was not supported by her party.

Ella Pamfilova has been the head Russia's Human Rights Commissioner since 2014. At the end of March 2016, Pamfilova was elected to head the Central Election Commission.

Deputy Moskalkova currently serves as Mayor General for Russia's Interior Ministry.

Deputy Maskalkova is a supporter of women serving in the army. She has also advocated the expansion of emergency police powers in the use of weapons, proposed one day in pre-trial detention being counted as two days in post-trial jail sentences, and supported the idea of confiscating the property of terrorists’ relatives.