Russian NGO Receives Sakharov Prize
2009-10-23 7:49
The top EU human rights prize, the Sakharov prize, was awarded to Memorial, a Russian NGO.
Memorial campaigns against abuses of power and tracks human rights abuses across the former Soviet Union. The group made international headlines in July when its activist Natalia Estemirova was found dead after being kidnapped in her native Chechnya.
Oleg Orlov, the head of Memorial, says he is grateful for the prize, but feels saddened that Estemirova's murder put his group in the spotlight.
[Oleg Orlov, Head of NGO Memorial]:
"Natalia Estemirova our friend and colleague who was killed in July this year, she was nominated for this prize in, I think 2004. She did not receive the prize at that time. The prize was given to other people who also deserved it. But, you know, this also gives a bitter taste, she got the bullet and we got the prize. That is why I think this prize is her prize as well."
Estemirova's murder is the latest in a series of killings of journalists and human rights defenders in Russia. Her murder has lead to international condemnation and raised questions about Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's promises to build a freer society.
