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Russia: Writers in Prison Committee statement on the murder of Chechen anti-separatist poet Ruslan Akhtakhanov
PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) | 16 November 2011
Ruslan Akhtakhanov, a prominent Chechen poet, was shot dead in Moscow on 15 November 2011 in what the authorities have claimed appears to have been a contract killing. Akhtakhanov, who was known to be a vocal opponent of the Chechen independence movement, had previously been kidnapped by separatists and detained for nearly seven weeks. The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a full inquiry into the killing. PEN International is seeking further information.
Akhtakhanov (58) was shot several times by an unidentified gunman outside his home at around midnight on 15 November 2011. The gunman fled in a car which was later found abandoned several miles away. A pistol and silencer were discovered in the vehicle.
The poet was a professor at the Modern Humanitarian Academy in Moscow and member of Russia’s Writers Union. He was reported to have outraged Muslim separatists in the North Caucasus on several occasions due to his staunch attacks on the Chechen independence movement.
PEN International is currently seeking further information on the killing and the investigation being carried out by the Russian authorities. An update will be issued is further action is required.
Paul Finegan | Research and Campaign Support, Writers in Prison Committee | PEN International t. +44 (0)20 7405 0338 | m. +44 (0)7824640527 | e.Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/pen_int |Facebook http://www.facebook.com/peninternational | http://www.pen-international .org
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