The American Committee for Peace in the Caucasus

ACPC Weekly News UPDATE
July 12, 2010 – July 18, 2010

Medvedev says Estemirova’s killer identified, but rights workers remain skeptical

On the one-year anniversary of Natalia Estemirova’s murder on Thursday, July 15, the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, announced that authorities have identified the killer of the rights activist. Speaking at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Medvedev stated that the perpetrator “has been uncovered and definitely identified,” but did not name the suspect or release any other details.

Estemirova’s friends and colleagues reacted to the announcement with sharp skepticism and criticized Russian authorities for mishandling the investigation from the outset. Oleg Orlov, the chair of the Human Rights Center Memorial where Natalia worked as a researcher, cited earlier reports claiming that investigators had already established the identity of the killer as a Chechen militant who was killed in a shootout with security forces in November 2009. He pressed the authorities to investigate possible links to corrupt officials that Estemirova had exposed while reporting on human rights violations in Chechnya.

“Above all, the investigation needs to determine who the guilty parties were in the crimes that Natasha was examining. So far, they have not looked at a single case she handled in the year she died,” Orlov stated.

Estemirova was kidnapped outside her home in Grozny, Chechnya and was later found shot to death on the side of a road in the neighboring republic of Ingushetia.

Related articles:

Rights activists doubt Moscow’s explanation
Spiegel Online, July 16, 2010
Medvedev defends Russia’s effort in killing
The New York Times, July 15, 2010
Russian activist honored on slaying anniversary
CNN, July 15, 2010
Vital leads ‘ignored’ in Natalya Estemirova murder investigation
The Guardian, July 14, 2010

Controversial bill giving the FSB new powers passes Russian parliament
Last week, Freedom House joined leading Russian human rights groups in calling on President Medvedev to veto a controversial security bill that expands the powers of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The bill, originally introduced by President Medvedev, gives the FSB the legal right to detain any individual deemed to have hindered an FSB employee in his work for up to 15 days. The legislation, which was overwhelmingly approved by the upper chamber of Russia’s parliament on July 19, also allows the FSB to issue warnings to individuals suspected of possibly committing a “crime against the country’s security.” On Monday’s 121-1 vote, the only dissenting voice came from the speaker of the Federation Council, Sergey Mironov, who cited his apprehension with respect to the bill.

Rights activists and opposition members expressed concern about the authorities possibly using the legislation to intimidate government opponents and further stifle civil society in Russia.