Film about Natalia Estemirova to be screened in St Petersburg at memory party

The evening of memory of the human rights activist Natalia Estemirova, marking the second anniversary of her murder, will be held on July 14 in St Petersburg. The film "Who killed Natasha?", shot by journalist Mylene Sauloy by the French TV's order, will be screened on the memory evening for the first time in Russia.

The film, which shooting was conducted in Chechnya and in England, used documentary materials form the archive of the HRC "Memorial", French TV and other media, which collaborated with Natalia Estemirova. The film won the first prize of the World Organisation against Torture on the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva in March 2011.

The first run of the film dedicated to Natalia Estemirova aroused the interest of St Petersburg's residents, said Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, a board member of the HRC "Memorial". "Today the HRC" Memorial "all day receives calls with requests to hold additional film screening at 19 o'clock," she reported.

"There are a lot of people in St Petersburg who were acquainted with Natasha," said Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya and continued: "They are those activists who often visited Chechnya and stayed at her house. Besides, Natasha had been to St Petersburg for several times, spoke at events, many people here know her and will remember her – friends, colleagues."

Mylene Sauloy, the film's director, knew Natalia Estemirova very well. "They had been acquainted since 2000, and Mylene filmed Natalia many times," explained Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya and continued: "Three months before the murder, she shot a long interview with Natasha, which was also included to the film."

According to Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, the film "Who killed Natasha?" "is nicely showing the atmosphere of today's Chechnya."Almost simultaneously with St Petersburg the film will be shown in Moscow, Yekaterinburg and other cities.