By Connie Hong
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
MOSCOW, Russia – Last year, Human Rights Watch joined other rights groups in demanding an investigation into the murder of rights activist Natalia Estemirova. Little has been done in the past year and the group, once again, urged Russian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, including an inquiry into possible official involvement, of her death.
Estemirova reported on human rights abuses committed by the Chechen government, such as extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances. On July 15, 2009, Estemirova was kidnapped outside her home in Grozny. Her body was later discovered in Ingushetia, covered with multiple gunshot wounds.
Although three years have passed since her murder, those responsible for her death have yet to be identified. Russian authorities stated that investigations are still ongoing, but believed that Estemirova’s death was likely caused by Chechen insurgents as a result of her exposing some of their crimes.
Their preliminary conclusion left both leading Russian human rights activists and Human Rights Watch unconvinced. Human Rights Watch criticized the authorities for failing to conduct an in-depth investigation that considered more plausible theories, including one that involved government officials. The group also pointed to the number of discrepancies in the evidence that the authorities have provided in order to bolster their belief that Estemirova was murdered by insurgents.
The group called the authorities to reveal and make public all the steps that were taken to examine the possibility of official involvement in the killing.
The situation for human right defenders in the region continues to worsen after Estemirova’s death. Aside from Estemirova, Maksharip Aushev, Zarema Sadulayeva, Alik Dzhabrailov, Andrei Kulagin, and Stanislav Markelov have also been slain.
In its recent statement, Humans Rights Watch expressed concern regarding the safety of other Russian rights activists and groups. It noted that the Chechen authorities have repeatedly harassed rights groups providing legal aid and assistance to victims of law enforcement abuses in Chechnya.
One rights group being targeted is the Joint Mobile Group, which sends rotating teams of human rights lawyers to Chechnya to provide legal assistance. The group was founded in response to the death of Estemoriva. Igor Kaliapin, one of the co-founders of the Joint Mobile Group, have been threatened with criminal proceedings for allegedly disclosing confidential information in his blog, articles, and interviews about cases of human rights abuses.
Human Rights Watch have called on the authorities to cease all criminal inquiry against Kaliapin, and instead, focus their investigations on the attacks and murders of other activists in the region.
For further information, please see:
Amnesty International — Russia must deliver justice for Natalia Estemirova and other murdered activists — 14 July 2012
Human Rights Watch — Russia: Bring Natalia Estemirova’s Murderers to Justice — 13 July 2012
Jurist — HRW: Russia authorities must investigate rights activist’s murder — 13 July 2012
