MOSCOW, March 18 - RAPSI. The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing of human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin's statement in defense of pregnant prison staff until April 22, RAPSI reports from the court.

Lukin's statement to the court is based on prison staff complaints regarding labor rights violations, in particular the Federal Penitentiary Service's chief doctor for the Republic of Adygeya, Yevgeniya Shkonda. The ombudsman claims that a clause in the service regulations on dismissals, which were approved by the Justice Ministry, allows prison authorities to lay off pregnant women and mothers.

On Monday the Justice Ministry filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that the ombudsman was not qualified to represent the interests of the plaintiff and that Ms. Shkonda had not been dismissed.

However, the court has a notarized letter of attorney from Ms. Shkonda to Mr. Lukin, who entrusted two members of his staff with representing her interests in court.

In a statement to the court, these representatives hold that although Ms. Shkonda had not been laid off and that the paragraph Mr. Lukin referred to concerns dismissals, they have evidence that the authorities told Ms. Shkonda about their plans to dismiss her. They argue that the threat of ensuing actions could be construed as a possible infringement on Ms. Shkonda's rights. Mr. Lukins representatives and the prosecutor have therefore asked the court to rule against the ministrys motion.

The court ruled in their favor.