Today, one of the prominent human rights activists was kidnapped and murdered in Chechnya. Natalia Estemirova had been devoted to the defense of human rights since the second Russian military campaign in Chechnya. Since joining the Human Rights Center Memorial during the second Chechen war, she had repeatedly put her life and wellbeing at risk in order to investigate cases of torture, abductions, and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by members of power structures: federal security services and Kadyrov’s private militia who operate with complete impunity in the region. Oftentimes she was the first one on the scene and would travel to remote and dangerous parts of Chechnya to personally interview victims and relatives. Her murder, undoubtedly, was related to her profession as a human rights activist.

We are deeply saddened by her death and send our heartfelt condolences to her friends, family, and colleagues.