Stop Persecution of Russian Human Rights Activist
Urgency Resolution adopted by ELDR Dresden Council
May 20, 2011
Submitted by the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Council, convening in Dresden, Germany on 20 May 2011:
Notes with deep concern:
– Reports on political reprisals against Oleg Orlov, Russian human rights activist, winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize and Chair of the “Memorial” Human Rights Centre, for voicing criticism of Chechen authorities about the investigation into the murder of human rights activist Natalya Estemirova in 2009;
– That trials initiated by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the latest of which is set to resume in June, are clearly politically motivated, raise serious questions on the functioning of the Russian judicial system, and demonstrate the desire of the Chechen authorities to prevent Orlov voicing his opinion.
Calls upon Russian authorities to:
– Stop trials and harassments against Oleg Orlov and other human rights defenders and properly investigate such attacks and trials;
– Properly investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova and bring the perpetrators to justice.
States that
ELDR will continue to closely monitor events in Russia.
Posted: May 20th, 2011 under Human Rights, The Murder of Natalya Estemirova.