Stanislav Markelov Lawyer has been killed a week after fighting against the early release of a Russian colonel convicted of killing a Chechen woman.

Officials say a lawyer has been killed a week after fighting against the early release of a Russian colonel convicted of killing a Chechen woman.Investigative Committee spokesman Viktoria Tsyplenkova says a gunman killed Stanislav Markelov near a building where the lawyer had just finished a news conference on Monday.
Markelov had told reporters he may file an international court appeal against the early release of Col. Yuri Budanov from prison last week.Budanov was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to 10 years for murdering 18-year-old Heda Kungayeva by strangling her after believing she was a rebel sniper. His case had been closely watched as a test of authorities' determination to deal with rights abuses in Chechnya.

Posted in: Chechnya.