The Human Rights House Foundation, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the Rafto Foundation, the South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders and the Belarusian Human Rights House in exile in Vilnius are concerned about the noticeable tendency in Azerbaijan to put local non-governmental organisations under increased government control following the recent amendments to the NGO law. The amended law allows the government to collect information on NGOs without referring to any specific purpose articulated in this or other laws.

The South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders strongly condemns the murder of the prominent human rights defender Natalia Estemirova. On the international day of justice, July 17, we call upon the Russian authorities to conduct an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation of this case and previous murders of human rights defenders in the country. We also call upon the Russian authorities to further ensure a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders in their country.

The South Caucasus Network for Human Rights Defenders condemns arbitrary detention, beatings and denial of timely medical assistance to Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli (Abdullayev).

Today, on July 15, 2009, our esteemed colleague and friend Natalia Estemirova of the Memorial Human Rights Centre was found murdered in Ingushetia. She had apparently been killed by one or more gun shots to the head. Natalia leaves behind a daughter of 16.

Today's brutal murder of prominent journalist and human rights activist Natalya Estemirova in Chechnya must be thoroughly investigated immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said.

Natalia Estemirova, a leading human rights defender in Chechnya, was found shot dead in Ingushetia on July 15, 2009, Human Rights Watch said today. She is the second human rights activist murdered in Russia in 2009 for trying to publicize grave and continuing human rights abuses in Chechnya. Human Rights Watch urged the Russian government to launch a full, independent, and transparent investigation into Estemirova's murder.

Statement from Memorial with regard to the reaction by Russia’s Council of the Federation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Resolution “Divided Europe Reunited: promoting human rights and civil liberties in the OSCE region in the 21st century”

Draft Resolution on “Divided Europe Reunited: promoting human rights and civil liberties in the OSCE region in the 21st century” - OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

European Parliament resolution on human rights in Russia

Authors

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Summary

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A human rights activist, took part in the demonstration in Red Square on August 26, 1968, against sending Warsaw Treaty troops in Czechoslovakia.