Russia's Political Murders: When Was The Last Time That Killings Of Human Rights Activists Were So Blatant, And So Common?
On October 24, human rights activist Maksharip Aushev was brutally killed, adding another name to the growing list of murders in Russia. Aushev, who campaigned against abuses by the security forces in the Caucasian republic of Ingushetia, was shot in broad daylight.
Other recent murders included: Zarema Sadulayeva, the head of a children's charity in Chechnya, and her husband; Natalya Estemirova, Chechnya's most prominent human rights activist, human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov; and journalists Anastasia Baburova and Anna Politkovskaya. None of these cases have been solved.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said nothing about the recent killings. President Dmitry Medvedev has been a little more responsive, but has little control over security. Russians know that Putin could put a stop to the state-sponsored murders if he chose to but he does not. Not since the time of Joseph Stalin have political killings been so common.