ECtHR communicates complaint on poor inquiry into Natalia Estemirova's murder

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has started the procedure of communication of the complaint in the case of the murder of Natalia Estemirova, a staff member of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial". The ECtHR scheduled the announcement of the information about the progress of the investigation into the case in Russia for March 2016, the HRC "Memorial" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 15, 2009, Natalia Estemirova, a staff member of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" in Chechnya, was kidnapped in Grozny by unidentified persons. She was brought to Ingushetia and killed there. Till present, her killers have not been found. The Russian General Prosecutor's Office treats the case into the Natalia Estemirova's murder as resolved. According to investigators, the murder involved Alkhazur Bashaev, who was put on the international wanted list. The investigators believe the suspect's actions were motivated by the revenge for the Natalia Estemirova's article, stating that Alkhazur Bashaev recruited militants and attacked a family of a Moscow businessman, and by the intention to discredit the Chechen authorities.

Colleagues of Natalia Estemirova associate her murder with her professional activities. On September 10, 2011, human rights defenders filed a complaint to the ECtHR. According to Oleg Orlov, a member of the Board of the HRC "Memorial", the complaint claims that victims in the case are refused in getting access to the case materials and that they eventually "cannot achieve an effective investigation."

On December 10, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Kirill Koroteev, a senior lawyer of the HRC "Memorial", that the ECtHR started communication on the Natalia Estemirova's case on November 16.

"This is an important stage of the consideration of the complaint. It means that firstly, the ECtHR recognizes the complaint as sufficiently substantiated and requiring further consideration. And secondly, the ECtHR notifies the government of the complaint and asks the government questions on it, and the government should respond within four months," Kirill Koroteev has said.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.