In Moscow, participants of International Sakharov Conference commemorate Stanislav Markelov

On May 20, after the first day of the conference "Andrei Sakharov: Concern and Hope of 2011", dedicated to the 90th birthday of Andrei Sakharov, Russian rights defenders laid flowers at the place, where lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova were shot dead.

People brought flowers, stood in silence for several minutes at the portraits of Markelov and Baburova installed at the place of their murder, and then stepped aside, giving place to others.

There was no rally or picket as such; people just brought flowers, and then for some time discussed the work of Markelov and Baburova, and the trial on their murder case and the sentence passed to Nikita Tikhonov and Eugenia Khasis, who were found guilty by a jury.

"Stanislav's birthday coincides with the birthday of Andrei Sakharov. We might think about the comparability of these two figures. In some way, Stanislav Markelov continued what Sakharov had been doing. He continued his anti-Fascist activities despite threats; and the issues he raised are very important. Are very important issues that he raised," Elena Sannikova, a former political prisoner and one of those who came to lay flowers, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.