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Amnesty Says Markelov Probably Killed For Human Rights Work

People gather to lay flowers and light candles on the sidewalk in Moscow where Markelov was gunned down.

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January 20, 2009

The global watchdog group Amnesty International has issued a statement saying that the murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov in Moscow on January 19 was "very possibly" related to his "professional and courageous work to defend human rights." Sergei Nikitin, the director of the Moscow office of Amnesty International, spoke with RFE/RL's Ron Synovitz about the implications of the killing.

RFE/RL: What affiliations did Markelov have with Amnesty International's Moscow office?

Nikitin: My colleague, who is a researcher on the Russian Federation, had been working with Stanislav Markelov closely on several cases. Markelov [was working] as a lawyer on several cases for the victims [of human rights abuses.] He was involved very closely in cooperation with Amnesty International. So he personally visited our office.

RFE/RL: Why do you think it was Stanislav Markelov's work on human rights that led somebody to kill him?

Nikitin: This is quite an obvious thing. The first obvious thing that would come into mind when we heard the news about this assassination -- that he was killed for his work for human rights. Mr. Markelov was very famous among human rights defenders. He was a very brave person who was protecting human rights, defending them and working on several court cases. So it is obvious that one of the reasons why he was assassinated was his involvement in this work.

RFE/RL: Several recent political killings in Russia and abroad have been linked to Russian authorities or alleged to have been carried out by undercover agents. Do you think that there may be some similar link in Markelov's death?

Nikitin: I think it is early to say that Russia authorities, to some extent, were involved in this. I wouldn't say that. We say we just expect that Russian authorities will make a very deep and thorough investigation into this case and let us know who actually is behind this killing. So I wouldn't be saying that this is another political killing [similar to] other killings. It could be business which is involved.

RFE/RL: Do you think Markelov's death will have a negative impact on Russia’s image?

Nikitin: Looking at this particular killing, it happened yesterday in the very center of the city. That was in the middle of the day when a lot of people were passing by and were around. The fact that this killing was done is such circumstances and in such an environment, it really affects the feelings of society in this country. And it certainly should affect the image of the country.

RFE/RL: Has the killing of Markelov frightened other human rights advocates in Russia, and do you think it will have a chilling effect on their work?

Nikitin: I went to the murder scene today. Hundreds of people came. Bunches of flowers are in the snow. Candles are burning. And it is obvious that people are not scared. Not at all. There were plenty of human rights defenders there. People came to say that they are not frightened. They are going to carry on.

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Comment Sorting

Comments

by: Anton from: Auckland

January 21, 2009 03:16

I am not informed on what is the reason for Amnesty's conclusion about human rights, but personally I see this murder as connected to Budanov's case. While in the eyes of the Law Budanov is a criminal, who was acting outside of his responsibility frames, in view of the serving and retired Army officers he is a war hero and a victim of the authorities, as anyone of them could easily be in his place. The girl was a sniper, who killed some of his servicemen (he was a tank group commander) - so they pulled her out of the hideout, and he, being upset with the death of his people, stepped over the line - instead of sending her to police or FSB for questioning he allowed himself to interrogate her and then killed her in affection (of which he later sincerely apologized). This was not in a cafe, but on the battlefield, by the way. At most he is in breach of Geneva convention about treatment of POW - but just look at Guantanamo or Abu-Ghraib!

Markelov was handling the appeal against his release, so most likely some military or close to military Budanov's supporters just wiped him off. I doubt very much civil rights has something to do with this murder - but, again, maybe Amnesty knows something else - why don't they make it public then?

by: Andrew from: Auckland

January 21, 2009 11:20

Gee Anton, you are being an idiot again.

"In relation to the case of Kungayeva, Budanov was charged with three crimes: kidnapping resulting in death, abuse of office accompanied by violence with serious consequences, and murder of an abductee. No charges have been brought expressly for the beating and torture Kungaeva endured prior to her death. He was also charged in the beating up a subordinate officer, threatening superior officers with a weapon, and other crimes.

Budanov claimed that he detained Kungaeva on suspicion of being a sniper, and that he killed her during interrogation. The investigation, however, reportedly found that no member of the Kungaev family had in any way been suspected of involvement in the anti-Russian activity.

Budanov used his official position and a military vehicle to remove Kungaeva from her home, and detained Kungaeva at a military installation; he was thus charged with exceeding (prevysheniye) his official position with violence resulting in serious consequences, which is punishable by three to ten years of imprisonment (article 286.3 of the criminal code)."

She was also raped:

"The forensic physician, a Captain in the Russian military medical service, found three tears in her hymen and one in the mucous membrane of her rectum, and the report concludes that she was penetrated anally and vaginally by a blunt object after death.

Three of Budanov's subordinates, Sergeants Li-En-Shou and Grigoriev and a Private Yegorev, were found to be responsible for this. Charges against all three were simultaneously brought and dropped under the May 26, 2000 amnesty law.

There are concerns that case against them was brought in an attempt to portray the sexual assault as an act that occurred after her death, in order to avoid bringing rape charges."

As stated above, she was not a sniper, she was a non-combatant, even the Russian prosecuters admit this fact. This was a RAPE & MURDER of a young woman, one of hundereds of thousands killed in Russian war crimes in Chechnya. He has most certainly not "sincerely apologised"

As usual Anton, you are wrong, and not only wrong but maliciously so.

by: Jeff

January 22, 2009 20:33

Thank you for your well-stated and factual account of Ms. Kungayeva's rape and murder Andrew.

It is far from clear whether Russian authorities are directly involved in the murders of Mr. Markelov and Ms. Baburova on Jan 19. However it is abundantly clear that the public statements and personal attitude of Vladimir Putin toward human rights, journalists and political opponents has created an environment where the murder of journalists, human rights and/or political opposition activists can occur with impunity.