MOSCOW. Feb 10 (Interfax) - Director of Russia's oldest human rights organization Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alexeyeva has backed the appointment of Ella Pamfilova as head of the Russian presidential council for assistance to civil institutions and human rights.

"It is a very good pick. If it was not Ella Pamfilova appointed as the Council chief, it would mean a totally different nature of the work of this agency," Alexeyeva told Interfax on Tuesday evening.

Pamfilova has led the council before.

"I am glad that the council is again beginning to work. I cannot say that it worked quite efficiently, but we did manage to resolve some real problems and to align certain distortions," Alexeyeva said.

It was reported that President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree appointing members of the presidential council for assistance to civil institutions and human rights.

The Council included 36 representatives from the country's various public organizations. Head of the Civil Dignity public organization's presidium Ella Pamfilova was appointed by the president as the head of the council.