Staff member of Russian Branch of "HRW" claims being threatened

Tatiana Lokshina, Chief of the Moscow Branch of the international human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" ("HRW"), an expert on Northern Caucasus, complained about received SMS-messages threats filed a complaint about that to the law enforcement agencies.

Starting from September 28 till September 30, Tatiana Lokshina received 2-5 SMS with threats.

The SMS spoke of the pregnancy of Tatiana Lokshina and mentioned other personal data, known to a narrow circle of people only, the website of the "HRW" reports. "We are waiting for birth of your child to involve him in our fight for freedom, let Allah help us," the organization quotes the text of one of the SMS as stating. Besides, the authors of the SMS promised the human rights defender "difficult childbirth" and reported that they were close to her.

Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of the "Human Rights Watch" believes that the threats are aimed at forcing people to think prior they start protecting human rights.

Tatiana Lokshina appealed for help to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). She filed a complaint to the FSB and sent copies of the document to the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Presidential Council on Human Rights, and the Ombudsman in the Russian Federation, the "Interfax" reports.

According to the MIA, the complaint will be considered in accordance with the law.

Tatiana Lokshina is involved in research and projects of the "Human Rights Watch" in the Caucasus. On July 13, she delivered a speech at the conference in Moscow, dedicated to the investigation into the murder of Natalia Estemirova and other public activists and journalists in Northern Caucasus. According to Tatiana Lokshina, the situation in the region has only deteriorated, and, meanwhile, "none of sound crimes had been resolved."