WASHINGTON - October 26 - Russian and Kabardino-Balkarian authorities must find and bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Maksharip Aushev, a leading civil society activist from Ingushetia, Amnesty International said today.

"The murder of Maksharip Aushev must not become yet another unresolved attack on civil society and human rights activists in the North Caucasus," said Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Program Director. "Bringing those responsible for Maksharip Aushev's killing to justice is important for the stability of the whole region.

The authorities, including the federal authorities in Moscow, are responsible for protecting the lives of civilians in the North Caucasus," said Duckworth. "Without that, the fuse which has been lit in the region will ignite and bring even more violence, abuses and grief."

"In the past three years, since the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, Russian journalists and human rights activists have continued to be targeted. These attacks are having a chilling effect on democracy in Russia," said Josh Rubenstein, Northeast Director of Amnesty International USA. "Activists like these, including journalists and lawyers, cannot be expected to exercise their civic courage unless they believe the government is willing to stand up for their rights and protect them."   Aushev's car was found riddled with bullets on a road in Kabardino-Balkaria, a republic bordering Ingushetia, on Sunday.

In 2007 and 2008, Aushev was active in the organization of protests that highlighted human rights violations under then President of Ingushetia, Murat Ziazikov.

Aushev also ran the opposition website Ingushetia.org for several months after the previous owner, Magomed Yevloev, was killed in police detention on August 31, 2008.  Aushev was a member of the expert council for the North Caucasus of the Ombudsperson for human rights of the Russian Federation.

In response to his activities during this period, Aushev was threatened and intimidated. There were several kidnapping attempts made against him recently, including on September 15, 2009, when suspected members of the security forces blocked the street he was driving on and tried to abduct him.

The current President of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, has entered into a dialogue with human rights and civil society organizations, and has started to reform law enforcement bodies there.

Amnesty International wishes to send its condolences to the family and friends of Maksharip Aushev. For further information please see Amnesty International report: Accountability for Human Rights Violations Key to Normalization in North Caucasus

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.