| The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO
regards the murder of Natalya Estemirova as a direct consequence
of governmental policies in the Northern Caucasus and in Russia
in general.
These policies are reduced to imitation instead
of real work and active resentment of those who in contrary
to the policies of the authorities have had the courage to
open the truth. Such imitation is seen in the statements and
television broadcasts on normalisation of the situation in
Chechnya. However, the truth is that systematic violations
of human rights, humiliation of people, kidnappings, tortures,
murders and offenses against persons – all that Natalya Estemirova
has been opposing for many years – are still taking place
there. And she was murdered because of her activities.
Such work has always been dangerous, however,
in recent years human rights activists - a “thorn” for the
authorities and bandits - have virtually found themselves
out of law. The law enforcement agencies demonstrate inability
and unwillingness of the authorities to conduct efficient
investigations even on the most loud cases. Those who ordered
and organized these crimes remain unpunished, which endangers
even to a greater extent the lives of those who continue protecting
human rights.
Such a situation has developed not only in Chechnya,
but in the Northern Caucasus in general. YABLOKO knows this
too well from its own tragic experience.
Today every Russian citizen who says the truth
about the developments in the country and protects the rights
of the people may become a target for criminals.
We shall continue doing everything we can so
that to make the authorities to open the truth on the murders
of human rights activists and to punish those who ordered,
organized and implemented these crimes. However, we are certain
that we can qualitatively change the situation only by means
of fundamentally changing the Russian state and its attitude
to its people.
The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO
expresses deep condolences to the relatives and next to kin
of Natalya Estemirova, her colleagues in the Memorial Society,
all the people for whom she was the last hope to get defence
from lawlessness.
Sergei Mitrokhin
Chairman of the YABLOKO party
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