She was born on September 12, 1953 in Almalyk, Tashkent region, Uzbek SSR (today Uzbekistan).

In 1976 she graduated from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute with a degree in Electronic Engineer.

In 1976 – 1989 she was a master, production engineer, Chairman of the Trade Union Committee of the Central Mechanical Engineering and Repair Plant of the Production Association “Mosenergo”.

In 1991 – 1993 she was the Minister of Social Protection for the Population of the Russian Federation.

In 1993 – 1999 she was elected as a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

In 2002 – 2004 she was a chairman of the Commission on Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation.

In 2004 – 2010 she occupied the position of a chairman of the Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation.

From March 18, 2014 she was Human Rights Commissioner in the Russian Federation; a member of the Government Commissions on Juvenile Affairs and Protection of their Rights, Crime Prevention, Migration Policy, on the Affairs of Compatriots Abroad and the Interdepartmental Commission of the Russian Federation Concerning the Council of Europe.

March 3, 2016 she was appointed as a member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation.

March 28, 2016 she was elected as a Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Russia.

Public activity

1991 – 1992 - First Deputy Chairman of the Commission on International Humanitarian and Technical Assistance under the Government of the Russian Federation.

1994 – Chairman of the Russian Federation President's Public Council on Social Policy.

1995 – 2000 - Member of the Russian Federation President's Council for the Disabled Persons and the Commission on the search for captives, hostages and interned citizens.

1996 – Head of the All-Russian Public Movement “For a Healthy Russia”.

2000 – Participant of elections for the presidency, the first woman - registered candidate for the post of President of the Russian Federation.

2000-2002 – Member of the National Public Commission on the Investigation of Offenses and Observance of Human Rights in the North Caucasus.

2001 – Member of organizing committee of the All-Russian Civil Society Forum.

2002-2010 – Chairman of the All-Russian Union of Public Associations “Civil Society - for Children of Russia”.

2006 – Initiator and coordinator of the national working party of the Advisory Committee of the international summit of non-governmental organizations ”Civil 8 – 2006”.

2007 – Coordinator of the NGO coalition “Right to choose – 2008”.

From 2001 to March 2014 – Chairman of the All-Russian Public Movement “Civil Dignity”.

State awards

The Order of Merit for the Motherland of the IV degree, the Order of Honour, the Order of Amity, the Medal of the Order of Merit for the Motherland of the I degree, the Order of the Legion of Honour (France).