"Memorial" still hesitant to resume its work in Chechnya

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", which suspended its work in Chechnya in mid-July this year after the murder of Natalia Estemirova, the leading expert of the organization, has not yet resumed its work in the republic. The decision on the issue can be expected in early November.

Making decision on further operation of the "Memorial" in Chechnya was postponed by virtue of different circumstances, including also the continuing litigation between "Memorial" leaders and President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, held in Moscow, and negative statements addressed to assassinated human rights defender and on the activities of the organization as a whole from the Chechen authorities and the republic's Ombudsman.

"In the end of October, our lawyers will go to the seminar to Moscow, and after its end, probably, the final decision will be made on restart of "Memorial" offices in the territory of the Chechen Republic," Shakhman Akbulatov, head of the Grozny office of the HRC "Memorial", said in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "I think, it will take place in early November."