Rights defenders associate attack on journalists with the actions of Chechen authorities

Despite the fact that the attack on journalists and members of the "Committee against Torture" (CAT) was committed in Ingushetia, it should be associated with the authorities of the neighbouring Chechnya, said the rights defenders, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya, the Project Director for Northern Caucasus of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and a member of the Board of HRC "Memorial", has recalled that recently the Chechen television had a report critical of the CAT; and an employee of the CAT was detained a few days ago.

This incident is not a blow to the image of Kadyrov; "most likely, it was done by Kadyrov's people," said Svetlana Gannushkina, the Chair of the "Civil Assistance" Committee. In her opinion, it all comes from impunity. Gannushkina has recalled that none of the previous crimes against rights defenders have ever been solved in Chechnya.

Igor Kalyapin, the head of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has described it as a blow to the journalistic community.

However, according to his version, the incident should not be associated with Ingushetia. He reminded that Natalia Estemirova, who was abducted in Grozny, was also killed in the territory of Ingushetia.

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