HRC "Memorial": people whom Farid Babaev unmasked stand behind his murder

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has published a necrology in memory of Farid Babaev, a public figure, human rights activist and candidate to the RF's State Duma from the "Yabloko" Party, who was killed on November 21, 2007, in Dagestan. In particular, the necrology runs as follows:

"The employees of the 'Memorial' got acquainted with Farid Babaev recently, but he immediately became our supporter and friend. Farid, who headed the regional branch of the 'Yabloko' Party, was not only an honest politician, but also a human rights defender. He made public many instances of roughest violations of human rights in Dagestan - kidnappings and traceless disappearances, fabrications of criminal cases, as well as cases of unbelievable corruption and officials' arbitrariness."

"Farid spared no efforts in defending the rights of victims at execution of the peaceful meeting in the Dokuzparinskiy District in 2005 and strived for investigation of this scandalous crime. ...Farid helped in development of human rights organizations in Dagestan and rendered invaluable support to evolvement of the social movement of relatives of disappeared people - 'Dagestan Mothers for Human Rights'."

"We are confident that criminals, whom he unmasked and who were guilty of execution of peaceful demonstrators, kidnappings, murders and corruption, stand behind Farid Babaev's murder. Farid received direct and indirect threats from representatives of the state power; his activities caused undisguised irritation of the Republic's leadership."

In summary, the "Memorial" calls on the President of Dagestan Mukhu Aliev to take the investigation into Farid Babaev's murder under his personal control.