Russian Opposition Leader Gunned Down

By Kenneth F. Hunt
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

KABARDINO-BALKARIA, Russia – A human rights activist and Russian opposition leader was gunned down Sunday. Maksharip Aushev was killed by an unidentified assailant who opened fire, while she was driving through the Kabardino-Balkarina region of Russia.

Aushev was a passionate activist, who was very critical of Murat Zyazikov, the former President of the Kabardino-Balkarina region. Magomed Yevloyev, another opposition activist from the area was killed back in August of 2008 by local police. Aushev’s death is another example of the wave of violence in the North Caucasus regions, which are controlled by the Kremlin. However, Moscow denies any role in these political killings, and blames the violence on the Muslim insurgents in the region.

Musa Pliyev, a presidential aide to the region, stated “t]he killing was an expected one”, as Aushev had allegedly received threats to his life in the past. Recognizing that incidents like this have not been isolated, Pliyev warned that such tragedies are “not just an encroachment on people's rights, but a challenge to civil society, the authorities and the state.”

The Prosecutor General of Russia, Yury Chaika, has already committed to a personal investigation of the killing. Nonetheless, human rights activist Magomed Mutsolgov said he, and others, will demand that the current leaders of the republic step down, since they have created an atmosphere that is “intolerable” for opposition leaders and human rights activists.

Many question whether the current administration in Ingushetia is able to prevent violent attacks like this. "You see how they kill journalists and human rights workers, it continues, and there is no real investigation into any of them," Mutsolgov noted of the Ingushetia government officials.

For more information, please see:

Focus News Agency – Prominent opposition leader killed in Caucasus – 25 October 2009

New York Times - In Ingushetia, Another Opposition Figure Is Killed - 25 October 2009

Radio Free Europe – Opposition Head Killed in Russia’s Ingushetia – 25 October 2009

Rianovosti – Former Ingush opposition leader shot dead in South Russia – 25 October 2009

Xinhua News Agency – Ingush opposition leader killed in S. Russia – 25 October 2009