“Who’s Next?” = “I know who is guilty of Natalia’s murder. His name is Ramzan Kadyrov.”

Farewell ceremony held for slain Chechen human rights activist

GROZNY, July 16 – A farewell ceremony was held in the Chechen capital of Grozny on Thursday for murdered human rights activist Natalya Estemirova.

Estemirova, who had been investigating kidnappings and disappearances in Chechnya for the Russian human rights group Memorial, was kidnapped on Wednesday morning in Grozny. Her body was found with bullet wounds later in the day in neighboring Ingushetia. She was 50.

No speeches were delivered at the ceremony, which was attended by about 100 people. Estemirova’s photo was posted at a monument to killed journalists and a banner reading “Who’s Next?” was put up.

“I know who is guilty of Natalia’s murder. His name is Ramzan Kadyrov,”

Human rights activists today accused Chechnya‘s president, Ramzan Kadyrov, of personally threatening Natalia Estemirova, the Russian human rights campaigner who was abducted and shot dead in Chechnya yesterday.

Oleg Orlov, the director of the human rights organisation Memorial claimed:

Kadyrov made the threat during a meeting just months before her death. He said the president’s aides had explicitly warned her to stop her work in Chechnya.