Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) horrified at murder of human rights lawyer in Moscow

The Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV) reacted with horror at the news of the murder of human rights lawyer, Stanislav Markelov, in Moscow. "He was one of the few who still dared to stand up for a minimum of justice in spite of great danger and reprisals by the Russian government and the unjust regime in Chechnya, which is protected by Moscow”, said the Eastern Europe consultant of the human rights organisation, Sarah Reinke, on Monday afternoon. "The murder looks like an arranged execution.”

Markelov was killed on the street in Moscow on Monday by a shot through the head. His last case was to represent the family of a raped and then murdered 18-year old Chechnyan woman against the Russian criminal, the officer Yuri Budanov. Budanov was given a ten years sentence in a prison camp and a few days ago he was granted an early release.

The Eastern Europe consultant of the GfbV, Sarah Reinke, has documented the genocide in Chechnya and the ensuing severe violations of human rights against Chechnyan civilians and Russian human rights workers. She will be glad to answer questions at tel. ++49 (0)157 718 36 082.