Chechen residents fear stronger repressions by power agents after "Memorial" leaves the republic

The decision of the leadership of the HRC "Memorial" to suspend the work of the Centre in Chechnya is ambiguously treated in the republic. Some people find it reasonable, while others express fear that suspension of the human rights organization will untie hands of power agents, who have recently sharply strengthened their punitive and repressive actions.

One of local observers said in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he could understand the heads of the "Memorial". "The leading expert, Natalia Estemirova, known all over the world as one of the most rampant opponents of the regime, was murdered. The suspension, at least for a while, of the work of the 'Memorial' in Chechnya, is, first of all, a blow on the republic's leaders who keep saying that everything is quiet in Chechnya, nobody breaks citizens' rights any longer, and kidnappings and murders are practically brought to zero," believes the observer.

Meanwhile, as he notes, the work of a human rights activist is to defend people's rights in spite of everything. "And the 'Memorial' should think not only about the death of their employee, or about how it will affect Chechen leaders, but also about the reaction of local public, ordinary citizens who sought support and defence in their office," the observer continued.

"All have rushed to make their PR promotion out of Natasha Estemirova's murder," said Zura, a local resident who knew the defender personally. "Our domestic MPs, bureaucrats, 'human rights activists', starting with Ombudsman in Chechnya Nukhazhiev and down to less known public figures, who started, first of all, to 'whiten' Ramzan Kadyrov."

According to her story, the decision of the HRC "Memorial" to temporarily close its offices in Chechnya will tell negatively on residents of the republic. In her opinion, suspension of "Memorial" in the territory of the republic will even more untie hands of power agents, who have recently scaled up the punitive and repressive actions.

Another local resident named Malika, who also knew Natalia Estemirova, notes that the majority of those who suffered from militaries and militiamen in the republic preferred to address the "Memorial" for help. "And it was Natasha Estemirova who dealt with the majority of complaints and applications. Let her friends and colleagues not take offence, but it seems to me that after her death the 'Memorial' will not work same actively. Not because they got frightened or would not like to do what they did. Just because there are no more such persons like Natasha," said Malika.