The council plans to hold its first meeting next week. Prior to that, Fedotov will set off for his last business trip as the Journalists’ Union secretary: according to the law, becoming a state servant he will have to leave that post.

The head of Moscow's Helsinki Group, Lyudmila Alekseeva, said she thinks civil society will react positively to the news.

“Fedotov suits me. He is a person of firm democratic principles," she told Interfax. She also expressed confidence that they “will find common ground with Fedotov”. Alekseeva recalled that Fedotov was one of the authors of the law on the media “which is not being observed, but has not been completely spoiled.”

"Fedotov is a good appointment for this extremely difficult post between two almost incompatible worlds – the world of civil servants and the world of the democratic public," she is quoted as saying.

Russia's human rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin, also praised the choice, saying that Mikhail Fedotov is undoubtedly a person of democratic beliefs. According to the ombudsman, Fedotov will manage to unite “very independently-thinking people, members of the Presidential Council.” He said it will make them aim for their main goal – coming up with proposals on “the modernization of civil society, political structure and human rights protection”.

Lukin noted that Fedotov “has got experience in social work, state service and diplomatic work – he used to be Russia’s ambassador to UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization].” And wherever he worked, Lukin pointed out, Fedotov demonstrated professionalism as well as excellent managerial qualities.