Stanislav Markelov
 | This article is currently being heavily edited because its subject has recently died. Information about their death and related events may change significantly and initial news reports may be unreliable. The most recent updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
Stanislav Yuryevich Markelov (Russian: Станислав Юрьевич Маркелов) (20 May 1974 – 19 January 2009) was a human rights lawyer and journalist who wrote investigative articles on Chechnya. He was shot to death on 19 January 2009 while leaving a news conference in Moscow less than half a mile from the Kremlin. Markelov had been the attorney for the family of Elza Kungaeva, a young Chechen woman killed by Russian colonel Yuri Budanov, who was released from prison in mid-January, 15 months before his original sentence was to end.
Mr. Markelov was a president of Russian Rule of Law Institute. He previously represented people who were beaten, tortured, and raped by Russian special police forces in the city of Blagoveshensk, Bashkortostan.[1][2] [3][4] and victims of Moscow theater hostage crisis. One of his previous clients was Anna Politkovskaya [5] [1]
A journalist for Novaya Gazeta who tried to come to Markelov's assistance, Anastasia Baburova, was also shot and killed.[6][7]
Possible motive for murder
The BBC reported that one possible motive being considered is that Markelov was murdered because he planned to appeal the early release of Budanov. Budanov, sentenced to ten years in prison, was released early because he had "repented".[8]
When reached for a comment, Budanov denounced the killings as a provocation aimed at fueling animosity between the Russians and the Chechens and offered condolences to the families of the deceased.[9]
References
- ^ Press-conference of Blagoveshensk victims 21 октября 2005.
- ^ Markelov: an illegal filtration camp has been created in the city of Blagoveshensk
- ^ Hayrullin, Marat (2005-01-10). "The entire city was beaten". Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 2008-03-16.
- ^ Hayrullin, Marat (2005-03-17). "A profession: to mop up the Motherland". Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 2008-03-16.
- ^ Anna Politkovskaya's lawyer Stanislav Markelov shot dead in Moscow Times Online
- ^ "Human Rights Lawyer, Journalist Killed in Moscow" Associated Press via Yahoo News (January 19, 2009)
- ^ "Chechen Rights Lawyer and Journalist Shot in Moscow". The International Herald Tribune Retrieved 01-19-2009
- ^ "Prominent Russian Lawyer Killed", BBC News (January 19, 2009)
- ^ "[[:Template:Ru icon]] В центре Москвы расстреляли адвоката, выступавшего против освобождения Буданова". Komsomolskaya Pravda. 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
His articles
External links
- "Human Rights Lawyer, Journalist Killed in Moscow", Associated Press via Yahoo News (January 19, 2009)
- "Chechen Rights Lawyer and Journalist Shot in Moscow", The International Herald Tribune (January 19, 2009)
- "Leading Russian Rights Lawyer Shot in Moscow", The New York Times (January 20, 2009)
- Markelov's website (Russian)