In Paris, protesters demand to solve Natalia Estemirova's murder

On July 15, Paris hosted a rally to honour the memory of Natalia Estemirova. The participants of the rally demanded that the Russian authorities should take measures for immediate investigation into the murder of the human rights defender.

Let us remind you that three years ago, on July 15, 2009, in Grozny, unidentified persons kidnapped Natalia Estemirova, a staff member of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" and a journalist; they brought her to the territory of Ingushetia and killed. Her colleagues associate her murder with her professional activity. On September 10, 2011, the human rights defenders filed a complaint about the lack of progress in the investigation into the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

According to Alexei Prokopyev, one of the organizers of the rally, who represents the organization "Russie-Libertes", about 30 persons gathered in the centre of Paris in Stravinsky Square.

Alexei Prokopyev said that they were lying on the ground with their mouths tied, and each of them was holding the portrait of the murdered human rights defender. Dozens of Paris residents passed by the place of the protest action, and they stopped and read the slogans calling for the protection of freedom of speech in Russia and immediate investigation into the murder of Natalia Estemirova, the "Radio Freedom" reports.

According to Alexei Prokopyev, Russian human rights defenders in France remember all human rights defenders and journalists, killed in Russia, and they demand that the Russian authorities should guarantee protection of those persons, who at present actively support the development of freedom of speech and democracy. The rally in Paris was held in conjunction with the French branch of the human rights organization "Amnesty International" (AI), the website of the project "Human Rights in Russia" reports.

It was the first time, when the international organization "Amnesty International" joined the rally, held in Paris to honour the memory of Natalia Estemirova. This was declared by Anna Nerdrum, the head of the Russian branch of the "Amnesty International".

"Every year, the AI compiles a list of 12 persons, on the investigation of whose cases we are to insist. This year, Natalia Estemirova is among them. On July 15, we did not want to stand off the event, dedicated to the memory of the human rights defender. I would like to say that Igor Stravinsky Square is associated for us with very painful memories. In October 2006, one year after the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, Natalia Estemirova was here. And today, three years after her death, we have again gathered in this Square. The situation in Russia is deteriorating day by day, and we are very concerned over that fact," the website of the "Radio France Internationale" quotes Anna Nerdrum as saying.