Kheda Saratova, head of "Objective", leaves Chechen UMG

Today, Kheda Saratova, head of the Information-Analytical Agency "Objective", has left the United Mobile Group (UMG) of human rights activists, engaged in tracing the situation in the Chechen Republic and investigating the crimes against local residents. Kheda's statement about quitting the UMG was a complete surprise for some of her colleagues.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that she made the statement today at a meeting with journalists of local media in the House of Press. "I can't agree with some methods and tricks the UMG uses in its work. I learnt about the incident in the Shali District from my colleagues, and I didn't take part in the last trip of the Group; by the way, nobody invited me there. I want to note that, basically, I didn't take part whatsoever in the work of the UMG; and now I state that I quit it," Ms Saratova has stated.

It was a full surprise for her colleagues. However, in their opinion, one should not hurry to assess her decision.

"Saratova, as any other local human rights activist, working in Chechnya, is under much higher risk than activists of those human rights organizations, who carry out their activities outside the republic and come here from time to time," a local NGO activist, who closely knows Kheda Saratova, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Another colleague of the human rights defender believes that Saratova's decision to quit the UMG and negation of its work methods could be made against her will, "by virtue of circumstances."