Moscow human rights activists support "Mothers of Dagestan"

Human rights activists are indignant with the attacks on the public organization "Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights" and plan to do everything to defend it. This is the topic of the statement made at today's press conference in the Independent Press Centre in Moscow by representatives of the leading human rights organizations of Russia.

"Now, a campaign is on to discredit the organization 'Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights'. The campaign is nicely staged. The NGO is 'flaked' by federal mass media. The 'Komsomolskaya Pravda' (KP) placed a false publication that they support militants and Wahhabites; the NTV television showed two clips of the same sort. On behalf of the 'Mothers of Dagestan', we sent a complaint to the KP and plan to do the same to the NTV. We support this organization, and we shall not let insulting it," Lev Ponomaryov, leader of the Movement "For Human Rights", said in the press conference.

Mr Ponomaryov has briefed the journalists on what Dagestan women-human rights defenders are doing"Relatives of the people kidnapped by power agents address them. They hold public campaigns in defence of these citizens. They managed to save some of them, at least four. Today we have received a message that three persons were released from militia. It quite well can be a reaction to our press conference."

The meeting with journalists was also attended by Svetlana Isaeva, Chair of the Board of the "Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights", Liudmila Alekseeva, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Alexander Cherkasov, member of the Board of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial", Svetlana Gannushkina, leader of the Committee "Civil Assistance", and Nikolai Svanidze, Chairman of the Commission on Interethnic Relations and Freedom Conscience of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Svetlana Isaeva has confirmed that she received today a message about "release of three guys - they are already at home": "They were under inquiry in the case of Vadim Butdaev. Allegedly, they took part in some community, planning to start jihad with arms in hand. Butdaev was killed in a special operation in the end of last year. The fact that his 'crime accomplices' were released without trial is a vivid indication that there was no criminal community whatsoever. However, Vadim was lost. Even his body was not given out to relatives with references to the terrorism legislation, although the court had failed to prove that Vadim was a terrorist."

: "Activist of "Mothers of Dagestan" challenges detention of her sister Dinara Butdaeva," ""Mothers of Dagestan" deny contacts with militants," "Leader of "Dagestan Mothers": killed Zakaryaev pursued Butdaev."