Chechnya holds commemoration of perished human rights activists and journalists

NGO members have held an action in Chechnya in memory of the human rights activists and journalists, who were assassinated or fell victim of extrajudicial executions, with participation of Liudmila Alekseeva, chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG). The action took place on August 30 in the Gudermes District of the republic, where Natalia Estemirova, a well-known human rights defender and employee of the HRC "Memorial", who was kidnapped and then murdered on July 15, is buried.

"In memory of Natasha Estemirova and all murdered human rights defenders, public figures and journalists, yesterday in Ishkhoy-Yurt village, Gudermes District, NGO activists held the rite of almsgiving," one of the participants said in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "Needy families received foodstuff packages. Then we visited Estemirova's tomb."

"Dozens of people came to take part in the action. Liudmila Alekseeva, head of the MHG, arrived from Moscow; and there were representatives of most of local NGOs and employees of the office of the Ombudsman in the Chechen Republic. Ms Alekseeva has promised to make everything possible in helping to find and punish Natasha's killers," said the source of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He has added that "after the action, some of the participants, Liudmila Alekseeva inclusive, departed to Ingushetia to commemorate the Ingush public figure Magomed Evloev."