"Memorial" refutes establishment of Natalia Estemirova's gunman

Employees of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" have contacted the members of the investigatory group, who told them have reported that the name of the killer of the Chechen human rights defender Natalia Estemirova was not established yet.

Today, a source in law enforcement bodies of the Southern Federal District (SFD) told that Estemirova's murder was solved. According to his story, at present, the direct executor of the murder (gunman) is searched, and investigatory actions are underway towards establishments of the customer of the murder.

"The spokesman of the investigatory group has refuted the information that the name of the gunman was murderer is established," the "Interfax" quotes Oleg Orlov, head of the "Memorial", as saying.

Making comments on the news that Natalia Estemirova's murder was opened, the "Novaya Gazeta" writes that the word "customer" was pronounced for the first time, while earlier the presence of such figure was not especially advertised. According to the edition, "there were rumours that the investigation established the concrete executors back last autumn." Besides, "data leaks on resonant crimes never happen by occasion."

Summing up these circumstances, the newspaper does not exclude that this sort of information activity of law enforcement bodies at absence of arrests and concrete names may indicate that there is "certain pressure" exerted on the investigation.