HRW: murders of human rights activists in Northern Caucasus remain unpunished

In 2012 human rights activists in Russia who worked in Northern Caucasus underwent a high risk, World report of international human rights organization “Human Rights Watch” (HRW) published today runs.

Investigation of abduction and murder of human rights activist Natalia Estemirova in 2009 was set as an example. According to the authors’ estimation, the investigation was inefficient: there is no progress in calling culpable persons to criminal liability.

The persons guilty of murder of Khadjimurad Kamalov, founder and editor of Dagestani weekly “Chernovik” famous for his publications about corruption and violations of human rights, in 2011, have not yet been called to account.

Consolidated mobile group of Russian human rights centres in Chechnya rendering legal aid to victims of local power-wielding structures underwent severe pressing, the report published on HRW web-site runs.

In addition, HRW emphasizes that armed underground in Northern Caucasus where murders of religious figures and kidnapping of local residents were going on was still active.

“Human Rights Watch” also points out violations of human rights in process of preparation for the Olympics in Sochi where the authorities confiscated real estate from hundreds local families. Most of them received compensations, however there are a lot of cases when the sums were too little, the human rights activists state.

Official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Lukashevich has already expressed disagreement with the conclusions of HRW, RIA “Novosti” reports.