OSCE Chairperson shocked by murders of NGO representatives in Chechnya

ATHENS, 13 August 2009 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, said today she was appalled by the killing of the leader of a Chechen aid group and her husband.

According to news reports, Zarema Sadulayeva, the leader of the Save the Generation charity, and her husband, Alik Dzhabrailov, were found dead after being seized by armed men on Monday. In July, human rights defender Natalia Estemirova was abducted and killed.

"These latest crimes demonstrate again the dangers faced by human rights defenders. I condemn these murders, which tragically and prematurely ended the lives of people who worked to improve the situation in the region," Bakoyannis said.

"The perpetrators of this cowardly act must be found and brought to justice."