Statement by the Party Chairman

July 16, 2009
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