Picket in memory of Aslan Maskhadov held in Moscow

Yesterday, on March 11 in Moscow, in Chistye Prudy, at the monument to Alexander Griboedov, a picket was held in memory of the leader of Chechen separatists Aslan Maskhadov.

The action was organized by the initiative group comprising activists of the Anti-War Club, employees of the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" and civil activists who attend the overwhelming majority of street actions in Moscow.

In total, about 20 persons took part in the picket. 

The leaflets disseminated at the picket reminded of the events of 2005, when on March 8 Aslan Maskhadov, President of self-proclaimed Chechen Republic of Ichkeria was killed in the Chechen village of Tolstoy-Yurt during the unilateral armistice announced by him.

In the opinion of the authors of the leaflets, "Maskhadov, as nobody else, wanted peace and negotiations," but "the political methods of addressing the problems offered by Maskhadov had never been demanded." "Russian authorities and the media under their control treated him as a gangster and terrorist. People, having no alternative information, believed them. The state-owned media never gave floor to Maskhadov; therefore most of the Russians did not know his viewpoint," runs the leaflet disseminated by the Anti-War Club.

Mikhail Kriger, one of the organizers of the picket and activist of the Anti-War Club, said that some Chechens living in Moscow would have liked to join the action; however, they did not dare, because of fear and the present tense situation in Chechnya.

See earlier reports: "Five years after death of Chechen separatists' leader Aslan Maskhadov," "President of Chechnya refutes information about pressure on Aslan Maskhadov's son," "Former Chechen separatist leaders: Maskhadov was ready to lay down arms."