zaks.ru, August 24, 2009

About two dozens of people gathered in Chernishevsky Garden in St.Petersburg on August 22 so that to pay tribute to the memory of Natasha Estemirova. It was the 39th day since Natasha’s death, which, according to the Muslim tradition, is a commemoration day.

Representatives of St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO commented on the tragic death of the human rights activist: “We are strongly against the situation when the best people are murdered in Russia. Natasha brought to people the value of human life! On July 15 armed people killed this fragile woman, a mother and protectress of people.” Activists arranged a stand with Natasha’s biography and laid flowers to her photograph. They also handed leaflets to passers-by and showed photographs made by Natasha’s friends and relatives. The participants of the action could also read abstracts from Natasha’s articles about the situation in Chechnya, and her memoirs. The action lasted over an hour.

Activists of public organisation House of Peace and Non-Violence, St.Petersburg branch of YABLOKO and member of Grozny branch of Memorial Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya took part in the action.

Natalya Estemirova, member of the Memorial Society and winner of many prizes for protection of human rights, was kidnapped by her house in Grozni. She was seized by several people, bundled into a white Zhiguli car and driven off in an unknown direction. In the evening her body was discovered with two bullet wounds in Nazran, Ingushetia.