20 July 2009, 23:00
Medvedev expresses condolences to "Memorial" on Estemirova's death
The Grozny office of the HRC "Memorial" has received a cable from Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, in which he condoles on the death of Natalia Estemirova, an employee of the Centre.
"I'm deeply shocked by the cruel murder of the well-known human rights advocate and journalists Natalia Khusainovna Estemirova," says Mr Medvedev's cable sent on July 18 to Shamkhan Akbulatov, head of the Grozny office HRC "Memorial".
Dmitri Medvedev promises that this crime will be most carefully investigated, and the criminals will be punished.
"Natalia Khusainovna Estemirova stood for the universality and indivisibility of all human rights; she tried to draw public attention to various problems and processes underway in the country. Her colleagues note that she was resolute, courageous and partial," runs the message.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that earlier President of Russia had treated the murder of the employee of the HRC "Memorial" to be a provocation and expressed his confidence that the crime will be opened and culprits punished under the Russian criminal law.
