Double Murders In Russia.

[Christine Murray]

Eurozine - Russia: Double murder another blow for human rights - Eurozine News Item

This story has not had much Western media coverage, I picked up a little
on the radio. Anastasia Barburova was murdered whilst going to the aid of her
colleague Stanislav Markelov. Barburova was a writer at Novaya Gazeta.

Stanislav was a human rights lawyer with a strong connection to the
Chechen region.

Novaya Gazeta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia was set up by Gorbachev
and included amongst its staff the late Journalist and hostage Negotiator
Anna Politkovskaya :http://www.politics.ie/blogs/dot/14-...tkovskaya.html
IWMF : International Women's Media Foundation - Home
Anna Politkovskaya - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Politkovskaya was murdered in Moscow on October 7th 2006, the trial
has been variously described as narrow and farcical with threats
and armed guards in locked courthouses.

BBC NEWS | Europe | Murder of lawyer shocks Russians
Anna Politkovskaya trial moves into closed court to hear secret testimony | Media | guardian.co.uk



Article 19 :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARTICLE_19

[toxic avenger]

Russia is a sick and twisted society, and is a much bigger danger to world peace than the Arabs, Israelis, terrorists, Iranians, or North Koreans. Human Rights count for little there. I hope Obama is fully up to the challenge, I'll side with American values over Russian ones any day...

[Christine Murray]

Russia is a sick and twisted society, and is a much bigger danger to world peace than the Arabs, Israelis, terrorists, Iranians, or North Koreans. Human Rights count for little there. I hope Obama is fully up to the challenge, I'll side with American values over Russian ones any day...

I should put this in book recommendations but;

Anna Politkovskaya : 'Putin's Russia' is a beautifully written book, she also
had extensive essay work on the internet. The Latest edition has
her pieces on the Beslan and Nord -Est sieges. It's grim and frightening
reading.

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Putins-Russia-Anna-Politkovskaya/dp/1843430509]Putin's Russia: Amazon.co.uk: Anna Politkovskaya, Arch Tait: Books[/ame]

[Christine Murray]

Novaya Gazeta on the Markelov-Baburova Shooting - Robert Amsterdam

[Thac0man]

I saw an interesting program on CNN recently that cited a "culture of impunity" being fostered by the government as being the spur for ultra nationalists and other groups to carry out murders. Putins description to a Nasi rally of opposition politicians as "[SIZE=2]scavenging like jackals for funds from foreign embassies" sums up how the powers in Russia would like their opponents to be percieved publically. It seems the view of journalist and human rights workers is not mch better.
[/SIZE]

[MichaelR]

I saw an interesting program on CNN recently that cited a "culture of impunity" being fostered by the government as being the spur for ultra nationalists and other groups to carry out murders.
[/SIZE]

While I'm not saying Russia is great on human rights issues, this particular claim is far from the truth.

Russia does have a "skinhead" problem but is actively weeding them out. At least four groups were arrested in this new year alone.

Moreover, in the recent years Russian prosecutors have started pushing for punishment for incitement to ethnic hatred - i.e. for words alone. Some people (though not I) consider this a human rights violation.

If names/details are needed I can translate some.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a Russian in Ireland.

[Christine Murray]

The student who was shot in the head was investigating neo-nazi movements;
this would indicate her area in human rights. She was in the wrong place
at the wrong time. RIP.

I have been writing and reading on Politkovskaya for years, this is unfortunate
for both Novaya Gazeta and for the idea and spirit of Article 19. The Chechen
problem is huge and can you donate info on the Kosovo Contacts Group?
I am not anti-Russian; but I do believe that the response to these killings
is appalling and was unhelped by Litvinenko's outbursts btw.

The neutrality of investigations are compromised indeed by continual
obfuscation. I shall add in the PEN links later.
rgds,
dot.

[cHeal]

I have to say I love Putin, he's great. However Russia's human rights record is bloody disgraceful. How many hournalists and ******************** have been murdered there in the last decade?

[toxic avenger]

I have to say I love Putin, he's great. However Russia's human rights record is bloody disgraceful. How many hournalists and ******************** have been murdered there in the last decade?

These people like Putin too. They are the 'Nashi'. They scare me. A lot.

[ame="http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=CeA6y2vFXgU"]YouTube - Nashi: Putin's Enthusiasts - Russia[/ame]

[stanley]

One in ten murders in Russia gets solved and usually the authorities have beaten the living shlte out of some poor unfortunate to make the stats look good.

Putin relaxes in the sun on the basis of the people still remember Stalin and his butcher regime and know that at any minute Putin can step it up against his own people, would have no qualms about it either, now he has manipulated the Pres job rules, expect his return soon.

The State Duma is full of gangsters, mafia types, criminals, corrupt officials all there on the basis they cannot be charged with anything whilst they sit in the Duma.

They spend most of their time arranging for charges to be dropped and hanging out with like-minded people sharing strokes,scams, raping the State.

Does it remind anyone of somewhere else ?