Natalia Estemirova and Maksharip Aushev posthumously decorated with Russian Ombudsman's medals

On the eve of the International Day of Human Rights, Moscow hosted a ceremony of awarding the medals of the Ombudsman of the Russian Federation "Hurry Doing Good". Two of the laureates were rewarded posthumously - human rights defenders Natalia Estemirova from Chechnya and Maksharip Aushev from Ingushetia.

"Our ceremony is rather gloomy. Unfortunately, the modern life is full of gloomy moments. Maksharip Aushev was one of very prominent and respected Ingush citizens and figures, who kept taking their active life stand in different times. This stand was always independent. And when it is independent, not extremist, ill-wishers appear from all sides," Vladimir Lukin, Russian Ombudsman, said at the awarding ceremony, as reported by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Maksharip fell victim of cruel and cowardly killers, who were not capable to argue with him publicly, personally and peacefully. We condole and we are sure that Ingushetia will manage to overcome these tragic cataclysms that it is now facing from all directions," Vladimir Lukin has noted.

The ceremony of awarding the medals of Russian Ombudsman took place on December 8 in Moscow, in the library-foundation "Russian Abroad". Except for the laureates and their representatives, presentations at the party were made by Yuri Lyubimov, arts director of the Moscow Taganka Drama and Comedy Theatre, Natalia Solzhenitsyna, widow of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Alexander Cherkasov, a member of the board of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" and others.