Picket in memory of Chechen separatists' leader Aslan Maskhadov banned in Moscow

The Moscow authorities have prohibited the picket in memory of Aslan Maskhadov, the second President of Chechnya and leader of separatists killed three years ago that was planned for March 13. Elena Batenkova, one of the organizers of the action and activist of the "Feedback" Group, has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about it.

According to Ms Batenkova, the organizers of the picket were told at the Prefecture of the Central Administrative District of Moscow that the Prefecture could not sanction the event, since earlier another notification had arrived on the same place and time about holding a protest action against recognition of Kosovo's independence. The Prefecture failed to offer another place and time for the picket as it is stipulated by the law.

The notification on holding the picket that had been sent to the Prefecture indicated that its aim was to voice protest against military actions, terror and violence in Chechnya and elsewhere in Russia, and Maskhadov's name was not mentioned. Nevertheless, a number of mass media, including the "Caucasian Knot", have informed that the action will be dedicated to his memory.

Irina Vologina, an activist of the Anti-War Club, has shared her opinion with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that by having assassinated Maskhadov and having refused to negotiate with him, the Russian authorities missed a real chance to stop the guerrilla war in Chechnya and spread of the Chechen war to the adjacent republics.