SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED AT MURDER OF RUSSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is appalled and saddened by the murder of the Russian human rights activist Natalia Estemirova following her abduction from her home in Grozny.  

He urges the Russian authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation in order to bring the perpetrators of this heinous killing to justice, and by so doing, to send a strong and unambiguous message that the targeting of human rights activists will not be tolerated.  

The Secretary-General expresses his solidarity with human rights defenders around the world who work courageously and selflessly each and every day, in defense of basic rights and freedoms.

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For information media • not an official record