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Russia human rights advocate Estemirova slain in Chechnya

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Russian human rights activist Natalia Estemirova was kidnapped in Grozny Wednesday morning and shot to death, according to news reports. Estemirova, 50, investigated allegations of human rights violations in Chechnya for about 10 years. Estemirova's body, which had been shot multiple times, was found Wednesday afternoon in nearby Ingushetia. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he was outraged and ordered an inquiry into Estemirova's killing. Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned Estemirova's killing and urged Russian leaders to ensure her killers are brought to justice. A Kremlin spokesperson said a motive for Estemirova's slaying was likely linked to her activism. Estemirova worked for Russian human rights organization Memorial, which has accused Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov of responsibility in her death. Estemirova is one of several rights advocates to be gunned down in Russia in recent years. In January, Russian human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov was shot and killed in Moscow. Markelov represented journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was shot to death in October 2006. In April, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin expressed concern that activists in Russia were being attacked with greater frequency. According to HRW, more than 100 European Court of Human Rights judgments have found that Russia is responsible for grave human-rights violations in Chechnya.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 16, 2009 (boomark / email).