Russian human rights activist awarded German prize

BERLIN, April 1 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian human rights activist Ella
Pamfilova received the Friedrich Joseph Haas prize from the German-Russian
Forum non-government organization on Thursday and said she would donate
the 5,000 euros "for good and bright deeds."
Pamfilova, who last year quit the post of the chairperson of the Civil
Society and Human Rights Council at the Russian president following
numerous criticisms from the ruling United Russia Party, said "there are
people who believe in the Russian potential and they should be given a
chance."
"Competition of ideas, competition in creativity is needed," she said
at the award ceremony.
Pamfilova will donate most of the prize to the Perspective social
center which jointly with Germany carries out charity programs in Russia.
The rest will go to the Leskovs family running a gymnasium for orphans in
a village near Moscow.
Russian Ambassador to Germany Vladimir Grinin praised Pamfilova for
her effort "to modernize relations between society and the state" and said
the German-Russian Forum "could serve as an example for the whole European
space" in its effort to promote Russian modernization.