19:00, 15 October 2009

Three months after Natalia Estemirova's murder, culprits are still at large

Moscow, Novopushkinskiy Mini-Park. Rally in memory of assassinated human rights advocate Natalia Estemirova. The inscription on the placard says: "Politkovskaya, Markelov, Estemirova. Who's next?" July 16, 2009. Photo by the "Caucasian Knot"

Today is three months after the day, when Natalia Estemirova, a well-known Chechen human rights defender and employee of the Grozny office of the HRC "Memorial", was kidnapped in Chechnya and then found murdered in Ingushetia. Until now, the investigation is unaware either of the murderers or the customers of this crime.

"The inquiry into the circumstances of Natalia Estemirova's murder continues. Unfortunately, so far, there are no particular facts capable to give a tip-off about the executors and organizers of this murder. The main problem is that some witnesses of her kidnapping refuse to evidence; while the evidences already obtained are rather contradictory and rather conditional," a source from law enforcement told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Let us remind you that one month ago the Investigatory Department for the Southern Federal District (SFD) of the Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office (ICPO) extended the term of preliminary inquiry on the case by two months.

Author: Alexander Ivanov

Source: CK correspondent