10:00, 1 March 2010

"Memorial" demands immediate inquiry into Karastelyov's beating

The attack on the human rights activist Vadim Karastelyov, committed in a suburb of Novorossisk, was not occasional, but another example of pressure on independent civil activists, or an attempt to get square with them. This is the opinion of the International Historical-Educational, Charitable and Human Rights Society "Memorial".

"Beatings, fabrication of criminal cases, even murders of human rights activists, journalists, public figures and just those who criticize the ruling authorities are a system in our country. Mostly, these crimes remain unsolved," runs the statement of the Board of the "Memorial", which has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Memorial" demands to immediately investigate the attack on Vadim Karastelyov and make the culprits answerable. Besides, the human rights organization insists on investigating all similar crimes and punishing of all those guilty.