"The memory of such events is important." Who and why brings flowers to the place of murder memory of lawyer Markelov and journalist Baburova

On January 19, in Moscow, a traditional rally of the memory of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and the journalist of Novaya Gazeta Anastasia Baburova, who were killed on Prechistenka on this day in 2009, was held in Moscow. The second time in a row, the Moscow City Hall under the pretext of coronavirus refused to conduct an anti -fascist procession. More than 100 people laid flowers to the portraits of the dead, discussing among themselves a loud murder and his victims. Lida Matveeva talked about why it is important for them to be here.

13 years ago, a lawyer and journalist returned from a press conference on the Budanov case . Markelov was a lawyer of the family who died at the hands of Colonel Yuri Budanov residents of Chechnya Elsa Kungaeva. On the same evening, Markelov planned to send a repeated complaint to the court with a request to cancel the decision on the early release of Budanov, but did not have time.

Markelov and Baburov walked along the Prechistenka to the car of a lawyer. The killer, Nikita Tikhonov , was heading towards them and, passing by, shot a lawyer in the back of his head. Baburova, trying to help the wounded and detain the shooter, was seriously wounded in the head. Markelov died on the spot, Baburov - in the hospital that evening.

Mikhail Lashkevich , employee of the Landau Theoretical Physics Institute, activist

I consider this event important, firstly, because it is a political murder. The murder for the beliefs made by the Nazis.

There are several more important things: the Nazis were originally bored with the authorities , and this practice did not stop, the feeding of groups of militants simply stopped. Although some other groups are probably fed now, and this is very dangerous and very scary.

In addition, I know that Markelov defended people in many processes in Chechnya, so this is the murder of a human rights activist and the murder of a journalist.

The prepositions by which the authorities today abolished the procession in memory of the dead are completely far -fetched, because other mass events are not canceled, only opposition events are canceled. Our authorities act as always.

The murder of Markelov and Baburova excites not only the people who found him at a conscious age. The action was also visited by students who discussed the events of 13 years ago, perhaps louder than others.

“The memory of such events is important. If you forget this, you can miss more serious crimes of the authorities, ”says student Alexei, who came to the action. “And the fact that the authorities canceled is bad, this is a restriction of freedom under the pretext of fighting Covid, although there is no struggle in fact, it is just such a plug of discontent.”

Indeed, in previous years, the anti -fascists walked quite noisy and numerous march from Pushkinskaya Square along the boulevards to the place of murder of Markelov and Baburova. The participants chanted slogans like “we will not forget - we will not forgive”, carried posters, and provocateurs tried to attack them.

Although anti-fascists and left activists understand the action on January 19 wider than just the day of the memory of Markelov and Baburova (also as an action against political repression and grimac of capitalism), but still most participants come first of all to honor the memory of the dead.

Uta , activist

Nastya Baburova combined her worldview, her activist position with professional activities. And, it seems to me, it is very significant that those who, on the one hand, have activist experience and a very active life position, and, on the other hand, embody this precisely within the framework of their profession. Therefore, this, of course, is a significant event.

Elena Sannikova , human rights activist and publicist, employee of the Archive of Memorial

This, of course, is one of the most tragic and one of the most iconic political killings of the last 20 years. Especially many were shocked by which people were killed. What a pretty and beautiful person was Stas Markelov, and as a lawyer, and as an activist, and just as a person who attracted people to himself. A highly educated person, intelligent, sincere.

And Nastya ... This is just a tragedy, 24 years old, a girl, talented, everything was ahead of her.

PS January 20 in the Supreme Court began consideration of the cassation in the case of Nikita Tikhonov and Evgenia Hasis (murderers of Markelov and Baburova).