Putin's Chechen appeal

Published on Saturday 23 January 2010 18:18

VLADIMIR Putin yesterday ordered officials in the North Caucasus to ensure what he called the "normal work" of human rights groups operating in the volatile region.

The Russian prime minister was speaking six months after the body of one prominent Chechen activist – Natalya Estemirova – was found riddled with bullets.

In a meeting with leaders of the largely Muslim region in the spa resort of Pyatigorsk, Putin said: "I ask the representatives of regional authorities… to do everything for the support of normal work and daily activity of rights-defending organisations in the Caucasus." He then added: "Those who work within the framework of the law."

Human rights groups believe that regional rulers in Chechnya and other republics – who enjoy considerable autonomy in return for loyalty to the Kremlin – have little patience for their work.

The groups spend most of their time investigating rights abuses by police and security forces. Critics blame Putin for allowing an atmosphere of impunity.

Leading rights group Memorial was forced to close its Chechnya chapter after the July slaying of Estemirova, who had won acclaim for her campaign to protect Chechen women from being kidnapped for marriage in the ancient Caucasian custom.