Moscow pressed to catch activist's killer, end 'impunity'

Western governments and campaign groups yesterday piled pressure on Russia to catch the killers of a famed rights activist, accusing Moscow of turning a blind eye towards abuses in the Caucasus region.

The US said it was "deeply saddened" by the murder of Natalya Estemirova, whose bullet-riddled body was found in Ingushetia on Wednesday evening, only hours after her reported abduction in the neighbouring republic of Chechnya.

Ms Estemirova's Memorial organisation promptly laid the blame for her killing at the feet of the pro-Kremlin Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and Human Rights Watch said that only an independent investigation would have any credibiltiy.

Irene Khan, Amnesty International's secretary general, meanwhile said the murder was yet another example of attempting to "gag civil society" in Russia.

US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly noted that the award-winning Ms Estemirova had been "devoted to shining a light on human rights abuses, particularly in Chechnya".

"We call upon the Russian government to bring those responsible to justice," he added.

His comments were echoed by the Swedish government which is the current holder of the rotating European Union Presidency.

"We condemn that brutal act and call for the authorities to try to establish who is responsible and take the action that is called for," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

In 2007 Ms Estemirova was awarded the Anna Politkovskaya prize - named after a murdered journalist who embarrassed the Kremlin by exposing Russian abuses during the war in Chechnya and whose killers have also so far evaded justice.

"Everyone in Europe will be deeply shocked by the murder of another human rights activist in Russia," said Terry Davis, secretary-general of the 47-nation Council of Europe that oversees human rights standards in member states.

"How many more Natalya Estemirovas and Anna Politkovskayas must be killed before the Russian authorities protect people who stand up for the human rights of Russian citizens?"

The New York-based Human Rights Watch called on Russian President Dmitry Medvedev "to ensure that there is a comprehensive, independent, and transparent investigation" into the killing.

"It seems to be open season on anyone trying to highlight the appalling human rights abuses in Chechnya. It's high time the Russian government acted to stop these killings and prosecute those responsible," said HRW director Kenneth Roth.

Amnesty's Khan hailed Ms Estemirova as "a most courageous and inspiring woman who never tired of defending the human rights of others".

"Natalya Estemirova's murder is a consequence of the impunity that has been allowed to persist by the Russian and Chechen authorities," she added.

Mr Medvedev has "expressed indignation at this murder" and ordered a top-level investigation, Kremlin spokesman Natalya Timakova said.