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Stop the Terror!
August 11, 2009

Statement by the Moscow Helsinki Group

Reports about the death of our colleagues are becoming a tragic routine. Today, we found out about the murder of Zarema Sadulaeva and her husband Umar Dzhabrailov, activists from “Save the Generation” non-governmental organization, who were kidnapped in Grozny the day before. They dedicated themselves to helping victims of an unreported war, including handicapped children injured by land mines. This murder became the latest proof of the authorities’ inability to provide elementary security for its citizens and yet another reminder of how high the cost of fighting for justice can be.

We classify what has happened as an extrajudicial execution.

We demand an end to the terror unleashed against civic activists and peaceful citizens in the North Caucasus. The circumstances surrounding cases of kidnapping and murder, which have become more frequent in recent times, provide a basis to say that federal and regional authorities exhibit a criminal inaction.

We call on authorities to make an effort to end terror; to track down and punish criminals.

On our part, we pledge that we will not stop the battle for dignity and human rights in any part of the country, including the North Caucasus.

Sooner of later, those who murder civic activists and their patrons will face a just and lawful retribution.

We will do everything possible for this.

August 11, 2009

Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group

Andrei Naletov, Committee for Anti-war Actions

translation by theotherrussia.org