Munich - German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed dismay on Thursday at the murder of rights activist Natalya Estemirova in Russia's Caucasus region, at talks in Munich with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. "I gave expression to my dismay," the chancellor said of the murder, which she called "an unacceptable event."
At a joint press conference, Medvedev promised to do everything to resolve the death of the 50-year-old activist.
"This crime will be thoroughly investigated," the Russian president said, adding that the culprits would be punished for what he described as a provocation. Estemirova had openly addressed the truth in her work, Medvedev said.
Estemirova, who had held the Chechen state responsible for violence against the civilians in Russia's North Caucasus, was kidnapped on Wednesday in the Chechen city of Grozny.
Her body was found hours later with with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
