Chechen Activist Murdered; Prez Eyed

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 16, 2009 6:18 AM CDT
Chechen Activist Murdered; Prez Eyed
Human rights activist Natalya Estemirova was kidnapped and killed in Chechnya.   (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)

A human rights activist whose probes into abuse by authorities were a constant irritation to authorities has been kidnapped and murdered in Chechnya, the Wall Street Journal reports. Natalya Estemirova was found shot dead along a roadside hours after witnesses saw her being bundled into a car. Chechnya's president, pro-Russia strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, promised an investigation, but many believe Kadyrov himself is behind the murder.

"I know, I am sure of it, who is guilty for the murder of Natalia," said the chief of the rights group that Estemirova worked for. "His name is Ramzan Kadyrov. Ramzan already threatened Natalia, insulted her, considered her a personal enemy." (More Natalya Estemirova stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X