Militant can be named to be Estemirova's killer, a source reports

A well-informed source in Chechnya told the "Caucasian Knot" that soon the recruiter of militants Alkhazur Bashaev, who was liquidated in November 2009, may be announced by the investigation to be the murderer of Natalia Estemirova, an employee of the Chechen branch of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial", while the motive of her murder could possibly be found in the report of human rights activists, where Bashaev was mentioned. The employees of the HRC "Memorial" are afraid that this version may conceal real customers of the murder from responsibility.

The Bashaev's hideout, which was detected by special power agents after the special operation, contained Natalia Estemirova's photo. This was reported by the source of the "Caucasian Knot" who preferred to remain anonymous. He did not exclude that inspectors could link the found photo with Natalia's murder, committed allegedly in revenge for disseminating Bashaev's name in the report.

So far, there was no official reaction of law enforcement bodies on the data about involvement of Bashaev, liquidated last November, in Estemirova's murder. The HRC "Memorial" emphasizes that the report on the events on Northern Caucasus for May 2009 was prepared not by Natalia Estemirova, but was collective work of the human rights centre in Chechnya.

Nevertheless, if Alkhazur Bashaev is announced to be the organizer of Estemirova's murder, the inquiry in other directions will, most likely, be curtailed, and the customer of the murder will escape responsibility, human rights activists fear.