Activist from Ingushetia killed in ambush.

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT – RUSSIA

27 October 2009

Activist from Ingushetia killed in ambush

SOURCE: ARTICLE 19: Global Campaign for Free Expression

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – 26 October 2009 – ARTICLE 19 is shocked at the killing
of Maksharip Aushev, a well-known activist from Ingushetia. Aushev was
killed on 25 October in Kabardino-Balkaria, a neighbouring republic of
Ingushetia, when his car came under fire from another passing vehicle.
Aushev’s cousin, who was travelling with him, was badly injured in the
attack.

Aushev had escaped an earlier kidnap attempt on 15 September in Ingushetia,
when masked and armed men blocked the road with armoured vehicles. This
attempt was prevented by passersby and the local traffic police.

Maksharip Aushev was an outspoken critic of former Ingushetian President
Murat Zyasikov and had campaigned actively for his removal from office. He
had become active on human rights in 2007 after his son and nephew were
abducted. Aushev had organised peaceful protests and succeeded in getting
them released.

In September 2008 he had taken over the opposition website
www.ingushetiya.ru (later renamed http://www.ingushetia.org ) after the
murder of its owner and former editor, Magomed Yevloev, on 31 August 2008.
After President Zyasikov was replaced in November 2008, Aushev officially
announced he would cease his opposition activities but would remain active
in human rights. He left the website that same month.

The killing of Maksharip Aushev is the latest in a series of deadly attacks
on journalists, human rights defenders and civil society activists in the
North Caucasus region. The most high-profile of these has been the killing
of Natalya Estemirova in July this year.

“The violent death of Maksharip Aushev shows once again the great personal
risks that those voicing critical opinions in the North Caucasus are
exposed to,” says Dr Agnès Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director. “The
Russian government must show a genuine commitment to protecting those who
exercise their right to freedom of speech. The climate of fear and
intimidation in the North Caucasus is exacerbated by impunity for human
rights abuses, as the state fails to bring perpetrators of such abuses to
justice.”

ARTICLE 19 calls upon the Government of the Russian Federation to:
– Immediately open a full and impartial investigation at the federal level
into the murder of Maksharip Aushev, and to ensure that both the
perpetrators and instigators of this murder are identified and prosecuted;
and
– Take meaningful steps to stop attacks on journalists, human rights
defenders and civil society activists in the North Caucasus, and
demonstrate a commitment to the protection of human rights, and the right
to freedom of expression.

http://www.ifex.org/russia/2009/10/27/aushev_killed/

For more information:
ARTICLE 19: Global Campaign for Free Expression
Free Word Centre
60 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3GA
United Kingdom
info (@) article19.org
Phone: +44 20 7324 2517
Fax: +44 20 7490 0566
http://www.article19.org/
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