The United States is deeply saddened by reports that four family members of late human rights defender Maksharip Aushev were victims of a car explosion in Nazran, Ingushetia. The State Department posthumously honored Mr. Aushev with its Human Rights Defenders Award earlier this month, for his work shining a spotlight on human rights abuses in Russia’s North Caucasus. We offer our condolences to Aushev’s family and his colleagues who will carry on his courageous advocacy for human rights.

We look to the Russian Government to conduct a prompt and full investigation. We remain concerned about the increasing incidence of violence in the North Caucasus.

A member of the NGO Memorial HRC in the North Caucasus, Natalya Estemirova was uncompromising in her willingness to reveal the truth regardless of where that might lead.  She was devoted to shining a light on human rights abuses, particularly in Chechnya, and received a number of international awards for her brave work, including the 2007 Anna Politkovskaya prize by the Nobel Women’s Initiative and awards from the Swedish and European parliaments.  We extend our deepest sympathies to her family.

Ms. Estemirova devoted her career to bringing awareness and pressing for accountability for human rights abuses, particularly in Chechnya. The international community justifiably gave Ms. Estemirova a number of awards for her important work. A year has passed since her tragic death, yet those responsible for this horrible crime have yet to be brought to justice. We will continue to shine the spotlight on this case as part of our efforts to protect the brave journalists and civil society activists across the globe who, like Natalya, speak out against abuses and work to secure fundamental freedoms for their fellow citizens.

Ms. Estemirova devoted her career to bringing awareness and pressing for accountability for human rights abuses, particularly in Chechnya. The international community justifiably gave Ms. Estemirova a number of awards for her important work. A year has passed since her tragic death, yet those responsible for this horrible crime have yet to be brought to justice. We will continue to shine the spotlight on this case as part of our efforts to protect the brave journalists and civil society activists across the globe who, like Natalya, speak out against abuses and work to secure fundamental freedoms for their fellow citizens.