Russia's lower house of parliament has endorsed Tatyana Moskalkova, a retired senior police officer, as the country’s new presidential human rights ombudswoman.

In a secret ballot at the State Duma on April 22, 323 lawmakers backed Moskalkova’s candidacy, with 11 voting against and one abstaining.

There were five other candidates for the post.

Moskalkova, a police general and lawmaker from the Kremlin-friendly A Just Russia party, took the oath of office after the vote.

She replaces Ella Pamfilova, who was picked as the new head of Russia's Central Election Commission earlier this month.

In a March 30 statement, the opposition Yabloko party, which doesn’t hold seats in parliament, urged lawmakers to reject Moskalkova's candidacy, calling it “a mockery of common sense.”

Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, and AP