22 July 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Human rights activists in northern Russia say one of their colleagues has been shot dead at her home in the northern Komi Republic.
Igor Sazhin of the Memorial human rights organization told RFE/RL's Russian Service that Lyudmila Zharovlya was shot yesterday along with her son after he saw the killing.
"Someone rang the doorbell. She opened the door and she was shot right there," Sazhin said. "Her son witnessed it, so he was killed, too. We have no doubts that this is directly related to her human rights activities, not to any business matters."
Sazhin said Zharovlya was investigating corruption by local officials and companies and had received threats in the past.
"Someone rang the doorbell. She opened the door and she was shot right there," Sazhin said. "Her son witnessed it, so he was killed, too. We have no doubts that this is directly related to her human rights activities, not to any business matters."
Sazhin said Zharovlya was investigating corruption by local officials and companies and had received threats in the past.