Russian Rights Group Accuses Gov't After Its Activist’s Murder

The Russian human rights organisation Memorial has accused the Russian Federation of practicing “state terror.” The group was reacting to the murder of its activist, Natalia Estemirova in Chechnya recently.

In a media statement about Estemirova’s murder, Memorial reported on its website:

Saying it straightforward. Russia is suffering from state terror. We know about killings in Chechnya and in other regions. Those who try to tell the truth and express critique of the authorities are being killed.

Reuters reported earlier that Memorial was withdrawing from Chechnya as a result of the killing. Head of Memorial’s office in the Chechen capital of Grozny, Shakhman Akbulatov, told Reuters:

We closed the office both for safety, and as a form of protest to attract attention from the regional and federal authorities.

The statement by Memorial continues:

Those who killed Natalia Estemirova wanted to block the flow of reliable information from Chechnya. They seem to have succeeded in it.

The head of Memorial’s board, Oleg Orlov, says he knows with certainty who ordered the killing of Estemirova. He said:

We all know that man. It is Ramzan Kadyrov, president of Chechen Republic. Ramzan threatened Natalia, insulted her, believed her to be his personal enemy. We don't know whether it was Ramzan himself who ordered to kill Natalia or his close associates did it to please the ruling authority.

Orlov expressed bitter disappointment in Russia’s leadership in regard to the killing:

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Russian Vehicles in The Caucasus

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And President Medvedev seems satisfied to have a murderer as a head of one of Russia's republics.

Reuters said Kadyrov is regularly accused by opponents of massive violations of rights in Chechnya, which fought two independence (or separatist) wars against Russia. Kadyrov rejects the claims and has initiated a lawsuit against Memorial.