Dagestan: Farid Babaev, Dagestani political candidate and human rights defender assassinated

Farid Babaev political candidate and human rights defender was assassinated in Makhachkala in Dagestan on 21 November 2007. Farid Babaev had worked to highlight many cases of human rights abuses including, abductions, forced disappearances, the fabrication of criminal cases and unprecedented corruption. Four gunmen opened fire on him in the lobby of his apartment building in a killing reminiscent of the killing of Ana Politkovskaya.

Text of Statement by Russian Human Rights Center "Memorial"

IN MEMORY OF FARID BABAEV

On November 21, 2007 in Makhachkala there was an attempt on the life of Farid Babaev, a Dagestani public figure, human rights defender, candidate to the MP of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. According to the sinister tradition, the assassin was waiting for Farid at the stairwell of the block of flats where he lived with his family. Four bullet injuries turned out incompatible with life. Three days later Farid deceased.

“Memorial” met Farid Babaev quite recently, but we right away started to consider him our colleague and friend. Farid, who was the leader of the regional “Yabloko” was not only an honest politician but also a rights defender. He was the first one to make public many cases of grave human rights violations in Dagestan: abductions, enforced disappearances, fabrications of criminal cases, as well as cases of unprecedented corruption and arbitrariness of authorities. Farid was tirelessly defending the rights of victims of the shot down peaceful demonstration in Dokuzparinsky district of Dagestan which took place in 2005, pressed for investigation of this abominable crime, fought for transparency of elections and truly firmly and bravely led the current electoral campaign to the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

In August 2007, Farid and the regional department of “Yabloko” organized a roundtable on human rights violations in Dagestan, where famous right defenders were invited from Moscow and neighboring regions. This event gave a powerful impulse to the work of Russian and international human rights organizations in Dagestan. Within several months the cases of human rights violations in Dagestan became widely known outside the republic, efforts have been coordinated to provide legal aid to victims at the national level, first applications have been filed to the European Court for Human Rights. Farid helped to establish local civil society groups in Dagestan- he offered invaluable assistance to foundation of public movement of relatives of victims of enforced disappearances- “Mothers of Dagestan for Human Rights.”

We are convinced that behind the murder of Farid Babaev are the people guilty of crimes, which he condemned – shooting of a peaceful protest rally, abductions of people, murders and corruption. Farid received direct and indirect threats from representatives of state agencies, his activity provoked uncovered annoyance of the authorities of Dagestan.

We express our deep condolences to the family and friends of Farid Babaev, we mourn and feel indignation together with many residents of Dagestan.

We call for the President of Dagestan Mukhu Gimbatovich Aliev to take the investigation of Farid’s murder under personal control.

Memorial Human Rights Center

Link to Memorial Web Site