14 August 2009, 22:00
Russian President: murders in Northern Caucasus aim to destabilize the situation
At a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the outcomes of today's talks, President of Russia Dmitri Medvedev has stated that the recently committed murders of human rights activists and politicians have the aim to destabilize the situation in the Caucasus.
"A whole range of political murders and a murder attempt have been committed with the aim to destabilize the situation in the Caucasus. These are the murders of human rights defenders and a murder attempt on the newly-appointed President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov," said Mr Medvedev. In his opinion, this is also a challenge to the leadership of the Chechen Republic.
"Forces, dissatisfied with Russia's progress, acting with the support, among others, from foreign sources, have triggered terrorist mechanisms with the use of advanced terrorist technologies," said the President during the press conference broadcast by the "Vesti" TV Channel.
In her turn, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel said that those guilty of murdering human rights activists in Chechnya should be made answerable, as the "Gazeta.Ru" notes.