Mary Robinson: Estemirova's death is a tragic example of cold-blooded murder of a courageous human rights activist

The murder of Natalia Estemirova, an employee of the HRC "Memorial" is another tragic example of a cold-blooded murder of a courageous human rights activist, runs a personal statement of Mary Robinson, President of the International Commission of Lawyers. According to Ms Robinson, Natalia Estemirova was one of the most courageous and inspiring human rights defenders she had ever met.

When in spring of 2000 Ms Robinson came to Chechnya as the UN High Commissioner with the aim to assess the situation with human rights after the conflict, Natalia and her colleagues from the "Memorial" were most helpful for the mission, as marked in her statement. Natalia Estemirova then informed Ms Robinson in details about the situation with human rights, including both the violations committed by Russian troops and security forces, and the violations of the international humanitarian law against civilians committed by Chechen rebels.

"From time to time I continued to receive messages about Natalia's brave work and I know that the 'Memorial', as well as a broad circle of her friends, also engaged in defence of human rights, were more and more concerned about her safety and the growing enmity expressed against her by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and his administration," says the statement.

Mary Robinson also calls Russian authorities to more effective protection of her colleagues and employees of the HRC "Memorial", and also to help to respective UN missions in getting access to complete investigation of the circumstances of her death and other violations of human rights.