Rights defenders criticize ECtHR for decision on Estemirova's case

After the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) refused to reconsider the murder case of the Chechen human rights defender, Natalia Estemirova, her relatives and colleagues have exhausted all the chances at the national and international levels to bring her killers to justice, Oleg Orlov, a human rights defender, has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 31, 2021, the ECtHR, while recognizing the absent of an efficient inquiry into Natalia Estemirova's murder, awarded her sister with EUR 20,000 as compensation for moral harm. However, rights defenders have expressed regret that the ECtHR failed to recognize Russia responsible for Estemirova's death.

"The ECtHR has failed to find either that she was abducted and killed by Russian authorities, or that they had failed to take efficient measures to protect her life," Tatiana Glushkova, a lawyer for Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", has stated, adding that more than 12 years have passed since Natalia Estemirova's murder, and it is no longer possible to conduct many of the investigative actions.

Investigators fail to provide all the case materials to the victims, because the investigation into Estemirova's murder continues, Oleg Orlov, a board member of the HRC "Memorial", has noted.

He has pointed to the inability of the ECtHR to put pressure on Russia and demand the provision of all the materials of the inquiry into the Estemirova's case.