Inquiry into Estemirova's murder extended till August 15, Investigating Committee says

The investigation into the murder of an employee of the Grozny office of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" Natalia Estemirova was not suspended; and the inquiry has been extended until August 15, the Investigating Committee of the Russian federation (ICRF) has reported today.

According to investigators, Alkhazur Bashaev, who is on the international wanted list, was involved in Estemirova's murder; the motive was a revenge for her publications about recruitment of militants by Bashaev, the attack on the family of a Moscow businessman and discrediting of bodies of state power of the Chechen Republic. This is completely confirmed by the set of the proofs gathered in the case, says the statement posted on the website of the ICRF.

However, Alexander Cherkasov, the Chairman of the Board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", said today that the inquiry into the murder of Natalia Estemirova is not run at all.

According to his story, an investigator who is running Estemirova's case, had held several important investigative actions and tried to explore involvement of local law enforcers in the murder, but the investigating authorities suspended the inquiry; and there is no progress in it, the "Interfax" reports.

On July 14, 2011, at a press conference in Moscow, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the "Novaya Gazeta" and the HRC "Memorial" presented a report with the results of an independent investigation, which stated that the investigation was on the wrong track. Human rights activists believe that "the proofs contained in the criminal case files give reason to suspect a deliberate design of the evidence in order to make the version of Bashaev's involvement the main one."