Search warrant out for Russian activist's killer

One year after the murder of Natalya Estemirova - one of Chechnya's leading human rights crusaders - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced that her killer had been identified and an international search warrant was out for him.

The announcement came as former colleagues held a remembrance service in Moscow to mark the first anniversary of her death and expressed anger that no progress had been made in catching those behind the killing.

Mr Medvedev's statement is at odds with previous information, which said that the only suspect in the case was Alkhazur Bashayev, a rebel fighter who was killed later last year. Russian rights group Memorial had cast doubt on this, saying that the man in question would have had no grudge against Ms Estemirova - one of the best-known of a dwindling number of human rights activists in Chechnya - who was bundled into a car outside her house in Grozny. Her body was later dumped in Ingushetia.

"The hitman of the murder has been identified... but not the one who ordered this grave crime," said Mr Medvedev. He said that the hitman was on an international wanted list.

"Maybe he means the same Bashayev, or maybe there is a new person that is being sought," said Oleg Orlov, the head of Memorial, yesterday.

- THE INDEPENDENT