Vladimir Lukin

Who is Vladimir Lukin?

Vladimir Petrovich Lukin is Russian liberal political activist currently serving as the Human Rights Commissioner of Russia. He is the President of the Russian Paralympic Committee.

Vladimir Lukin was raised by his relatives, as his parents had been repressed soon after his birth.

In 1990s, Lukin was one of the founders of the liberal-democratic Yabloko Party. He previously served as the deputy chairman of the Russian Duma and as chairman of the Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee and currently serves as Ombudsman. He is a director on the board of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, and is also a former Ambassador to the United States. He is considered a long-time specialist in U.S.-Soviet/Russian strategic arms control issues and is a member of Russia's Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, an independent association of national security experts. On 18 February 2009, at President Medvedev's recommendation, the Russian Duma voted him another five-year term as human rights commissioner.